Explosion at GE Aviation in Illinois

November 22, 2011

A fire at GE Aviation followed an explosion in a utility building in Evanston, IL. No one was hurt. Two of the four walls were blown out of Building 401, which sits at the north end of GE’s property.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. No damage estimate was immediately available. Employees rarely occupy that area, and all buildings nearby are used to test aviation parts. Jet fuel, natural gas, water and electricity supplies were turned off in the area. GE maintains its own fire department but officials are unsure whether GE firefighters were the first to fight the fire. GE’s fire alarm system functioned properly.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration likely will be conducting its own probe to ensure that safety procedures were followed.