One killed, several hurt in explosion

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 2, 1999 by JIM SUHR

The Associated Press

DEARBORN, Mich. -- An explosion and fire Monday at a power station for a huge Ford Motor Co. plant killed one worker and injured 13 others as crews battled the blaze for hours. "This is the worst day of my life," Chairman William Clay Ford Jr. said.

Nine more workers also were hospitalized and three were unaccounted for. Fire broke out about 1 p.m. at the coal-fired plant at Ford's huge 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," Ford 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 at Oakwood. Of those treated at Oakwood, six to eight had severe burns over 60 percent to 80 percent 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. 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. The Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services also sent two inspectors to the site, spokeswoman Maura Campbell said. Hourly workers on duty at the complex were sent home while second shift workers were told not to report to work. About 4,000 employees were there at the time, said Ford spokesman Jim Vella. The 1,100-acre Rouge facility was once the world's largest auto plant. Henry Ford built the plant in 1918 because he dreamed of building a car from start to finish in one location. The complex has acres of vacant space but remains Ford's largest concentration of employees and factories and houses several suppliers as well.