GM Milford Proving Ground Oil Tank Explodes, Damaging Nearby Homes

A powerful blast shattered the relative morning quiet at the century-old GM Milford Proving Ground at 6:49 AM on Tuesday, November 26^th, as a tank containing a mixture of oil and brine detonated violently, inflicting damage on two houses in the vicinity.

Fortunately, nobody was injured in the explosions according to the Detroit Free Press, and Brighton Area Fire Authority firefighters were soon on the scene to handle the ensuing blaze, seen in an image from the Fire Authority reproduced below.

Per Chief Michael O’Brian, the arriving crews “saw a large amount of fire in what we would call a leased area of the proving ground” where a company is leasing space from GM to operate its natural gas and oil wells. Though located at the Proving Ground, the operation is completely separate from General Motors and the tank is not part of the automaker’s testing campus.

Approximately 24 trucks from four different fire departments ultimately converged on the scene. The explosion had been powerful enough to inflict damage on homes standing roughly 200 feet from the rupturing tank, though not on their occupants. Chief O’Brian called the damage “decent” and remarked that “people are saying they felt it 5 or 6 miles away.”

The large number of trucks brought to the explosion and subsequent fire was a response to a complete lack of hydrants in the vicinity. All water used in extinguishing the main and secondary fires had to be brought in via tanker truck. O’Brian said “anytime we’re working with a combustible, flammable gas or liquid we use a lot of foam.”

After 50 minutes bringing the main blaze under control, the fire chief told reporters “we have the fire out at this time, but there are some small fires we’re dealing with due to the natural gas, but we have it all mostly wrapped up.” The fire department planned to start an investigation into the blast in cooperation with the owner of the tank and wells after mopping up the last of the flames.

The General, though not directly involved, “will continue to monitor the situation” according to a statement from GM spokesman Kevin Kelly. Pleasant Valley Road near the Milford Proving Ground remained closed on Tuesday morning even after the main fire was put out.