A tank filled with byproducts from oil extraction erupted in an explosion and subsequently caught fire on Tuesday morning close to the General Motors Proving Ground in southeastern Michigan. Fortunately, the incident resulted in damage to two adjacent residences but did not injure anyone, as confirmed by the local fire chief.

Emergency services received the alert around 6:40 a.m. in response to the explosion, which caused a significant disturbance and led to shattered windows in homes situated approximately 500 to 600 feet away from the explosion site, according to Brighton Area Fire Authority Chief Michael O’Brian.

At the time of the incident, there were no workers on-site, and thankfully, no injuries were reported, O’Brian clarified. The explosion took place near the GM Proving Ground, located about 45 miles northwest of Detroit, and local residents reported feeling the shockwave from the blast even at a considerable distance.

Footage captured by nearby cameras revealed flames leaping high into the air amidst ongoing oil drilling operations in the vicinity. General Motors later released a statement expressing relief that there were no injuries and no damage to their facilities as a result of the explosion.

Chief O’Brian mentioned that the area where the explosion occurred is operated by a third-party company and emphasized that an investigation is currently underway to determine what led to the blast. The chief added that the tank contained natural gas byproducts from oil extraction, which included a mixture of water, a flammable liquid, and brine.

Fire suppression crews managed to extinguish the fire using specialized foam to tackle the flames effectively. They also sprayed water on nearby tanks to ensure that they remained cool and did not pose additional risks.