Ford has halted production at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant until Friday to investigate a gasoline leak from the plant into the city’s sewers, which caused the evacuation of several residents.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evens and Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a state of emergency in Flat Rock last week after vapors in the city’s sanitary system forced health officers to evacuate schools and homes in the region.
Ford’s plant was discovered to be the source of hazardous benzene fumes in the suburb’s sewers. Ford stated a leak was found in a pipe that carries gasoline used to fuel vehicles developed at the plant. Around 1,400 gallons of gasoline spilled into the city sewers, according to local media.
Several residents in the affected areas of the Detroit suburb Flat Rock were evacuated. Although, the local fire department has determined that the gasoline levels in the sewers are too low to cause explosions.
The air quality of the plant is safe, a Ford spokesperson said to local media, adding that many of Ford’s employees had to evacuate their homes. Only production has halted, other employees are on-site.