MILFORD, Mich. (WWJ) – Cleanup efforts are underway after fire crews had to rush to extinguish a vehicle fire at the General Motors Proving Grounds Sunday morning in Milford.
The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. inside an engineering lab at the GM facility near Stobart and Kensington in Milford, close to the border of Oakland and Livingston Counties.
A GM spokesperson tells WWJ a development vehicle caught fire and it appears it was related to the 12V system. Officials did not disclose the nature of the vehicle or whether it was electric.
The fire was contained to the vehicle in question and the laboratory only sustained minor damage.
Crews were still cleaning the facility due to smoke damage Sunday afternoon. They were working to contain the smell and inspecting the facility to ensure it is safe for employees to return later this week.
Brighton Area Fire Authority Chief Mike O’Brian tells WWJ GM employees were quick to call for help.
“The Proving Grounds is well-staffed, there’s lots of people all throughout the premises, so they had their security, fire brigade responded initially to the alarm call and then requested resources once they determined there was an event going on inside,” O’Brian said.
O’Brian said the building’s fire sprinklers kicked in and helped put out the fire with minimal damage to the building.
No injuries were reported in the fire.
O'Brian said in the age of electric vehicles, there are new hazards.
“You’re gonna see a lot more events that when there’s a fire involving an electrified vehicle or an energy stored system,” O’Brian said. “You’re going to see a lot more protection of the exposures in allowing the fire event to burn itself out or to consume itself.”
Firefighters from Brighton, Milford and Highland Park were all called to the scene.
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