MILFORD, Mich. – An explosion on the GM Proving Ground rocked neighborhoods just before sunrise Tuesday in Oakland County.
Multiple area fire departments responded to the scene. With no fire hydrants nearby, most of the firefighters helped run water from their fire engines to the scene.
“It was a very significant blast that was felt as far as five miles away, so far that we’ve heard,” said Chief Michael O’Brian of the Brighton Area Fire Authority.
It was crazy, loud rattling – windows rattled, Lori Smelt said.
Fire officials said some nearby homes received minor damage, such as cracked windows and cracked foundations.
There were no reported injuries.
Fire officials said the oil wells are run by the company T2 Energy Solutions.
“There’s no doubt that a piece of equipment failed,” Chief O’Brian said. “It’s really just what happened, and why did it happen?”
Local 4 reached out to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to see how often the oil wells are inspected.
Reports reveal an inspection happened in February and July and document how the inspector ‘noticed minor gas odor on location during inspection’ closer to the tanks each time.
The conclusion is that there were no violations.
A public information officer told Local 4 that EGLE remained on-scene to help with the investigation, including assessing any potential environmental impacts.
However, questions loom over safety.
“I always thought it was an odd spot for an oil well,” said Dale Geist, a resident. “Then, I’d seen it had blown up. I couldn’t figure out how an oil well could blow up, but there it was bigger than life.”