Battery explosion blows out lab windows at building in General Motors Tech Center in Warren

WARREN, Mich. – A prototype battery explosion blew out windows Wednesday at a building on the campus of the General Motors Tech Center in Warren.

IMAGES: Sky4 over scene at GM Tech Center

GM said five people were looked at by medial personnel but only one was taken to the hospital.

Warren Fire Chief David Frederick said firefighters got the call at about 8:45 a.m.

"Our guys did a great job, they were there within five minutes, and did a fantastic job knocking the fire down and getting everybody out. Everyone was safe," Frederick said.

The fire inside the Alternative Energy Center building was quickly put out.

Statement from General Motors

"An incident occurred about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday inside a test chamber at the General Motors Alternative Energy Center during extreme testing of an experimental battery. Chemical gases from the battery cells were released and ignited in the enclosed chamber. The battery itself was intact. The battery tested and the incident have no connection with the Chevrolet Volt or any other GM production vehicle.
Employee safety is a priority at GM. Employees were evacuated from the building where the incident occurred. Five people were evaluated by medical personnel; one has been admitted to an area hospital for treatment."