Explosion and Fire at Ford Plant Kill One, Critically Injure 12

An explosion and fire Monday at a power station for a huge Ford Motor Co. plant killed one worker and critically injured 12 others as crews battled the blaze for hours.

Nine more workers were also hospitalized.

Fire broke out about 1 p.m. at the coal-fired plant at Ford’s 1,000-acre River Rouge Complex.

The plant produces electricity for the entire complex. It generates enough power to serve a city the size of Boston, Ford spokesman Michael Vaughn said.

Hours after the fire began, thick smoke and flames were still visible from the building.

“It’s awful,” Chairman William Clay Ford Jr. said. “Everyone who works at Ford is an extended member of the family. This is the worst day of my life.”

Jerry Sullivan, president of the United Auto Workers Local 600, said he saw a number of severely injured people when he went to the scene.

“I haven’t seen something like that since my days in Vietnam,” he said.

Oakwood Hospital treated 11 patients from the fire and transferred 10 others elsewhere because of the severity of their burns, said Dr. Gary Christopher, director of emergency services.

Of those treated at Oakwood, six to eight had severe burns over 60% to 80% of their bodies.

“Several of these gentlemen were thrown by the blast and suffered various head injuries,” Christopher said.

Garden City Hospital received one patient, public relations director Terry Carroll said. University of Michigan Hospital spokeswoman Carol Craig said it was expecting five patients, some from Oakwood, for its burn unit.

The cause of the fire was being investigated.

A spokeswoman for Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. said gas was shut off at the complex, a standard procedure, and there was no evidence the explosion was gas-related.

Hourly workers on duty at the complex were sent home while second shift workers were told not to report to work.