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3 March 2023
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Blast at Ohio metals plant injures 13; one killed, US
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An explosion at a metals plant near Oakwood in Ohio, US on Monday, 20 February 2023, sparked a large fire and sent more than a dozen people to hospitals, with at least two of them in critical condition. At a news conference on Tuesday, Captain Brian DiRocco with the Oakwood Village Fire Department said that one of the 14 people taken to local hospitals has died. The explosion was at the I Schumann & Co building, a metal alloy factory, Captain DiRocco said. “There was a lot of smoke, a lot of fire and a lot of injured people,” DiRocco said, adding that the interior of the building looks “catastrophic” and that the damage is extensive.
Emergency crews were called to the I Schumann & Co copper alloy company located in the 22500 block of Alexander Road in Oakwood in Cleveland shortly before 15h00. The business is a brass and bronze alloy manufacturer. The blast shook the ground and scattered debris for a couple of hundred yards, damaging several vehicles, while the fire sent smoke billowing to the sky in a cloud visible for miles.
Captain DiRocco said more than 50 fire fighters from 14 area departments provided mutual assistance, many of whom stayed throughout the night to help secure the scene. The explosion, which some witnesses described as a bomb going off, caused extensive and catastrophic damage to the building, effectively blowing out the entire exterior wall on the northern edge of the plant. Large chunks of brick, stone, pipes, even part of a steel I-beam, were launched more than a football field from the site. The blast also appears to have blown open a large hole in the roof of the facility.
Oakwood immediately called upon mutual aid after arriving on scene Monday afternoon. With the fire located in the area of Walton Hills and Oakwood, many rural fire departments responded.
Captain DiRocco said that one person had to be pulled from the debris and was treated while being taken to a medical helicopter. A number of people had burn injuries but all plant staff had been accounted for and the fire was under control with crews mopping up hot spots, he said.
The bulk of the fire was out as of 17h00 on Monday.
A 46-year-old maintenance worker has been identified as the lone death in a massive explosion and fire at a metal foundry in Oakwood Monday afternoon. The victim, identified as Steven Mullins, had been working at I Schumann & Co for nearly 30 years, according to company officials.
A total of 13 other workers were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire. Authorities said there were multiple burn victims taken from inside the plant to nearby hospitals. One person was taken by LifeFlight helicopter and flown to a hospital for treatment. Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Oakwood fire officials said the cause of the explosion remains under investigation but it appears that the blast originated at or near a kettle-like piece of equipment at the foundry, which holds molten metals before being poured into moulds.
Captain DiRocco said the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office has taken the lead on the investigation due to its size, complexity and Mullins' death. "The [damage in] the interior of the building is pretty catastrophic. We were working this morning with a structural engineer to see where was safe for us to conduct our investigation," DiRocco said. "The damage is pretty extensive. This morning, the investigators were combing through the debris trying to find the origin and the cause."
DiRocco said the facility underwent annual fire inspections. "It’s the largest fire I have ever had to handle," Dirocco said. "It’s one of the largest here in Oakwood in a very long time. When we arrived on scene, there was a very large debris field, which is essentially that front half of the building which blew off."
The company released the following statement about the explosion, "An explosion of unknown origin struck our Bedford, Ohio facility today resulting in injuries to employees and significant damage to the facility. Our efforts now are focused on supporting the first responders who came on scene quickly to help our employees. The safety and health of our employees is our top priority and we commit to ensuring they receive the medical care they need. We will work alongside investigators in their search for answers as part of our commitment to Northeast Ohio where we have been operating for more than 100 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with our team members and their families at this difficult time."
When asked what would or could cause an explosion of that magnitude, DiRocco said he couldn't speculate. "There are several causes to explosions. What caused it there... I couldn't speak on that," Capt. DiRocco said. "The building was in good standing. The have been in the village for a very long time. Any time they have had a violation, even if it is a small one, they have fixed whatever it is."
Monday's explosion was so powerful, bricks from the building were thrown across the parking lot. The brick wall of the building was completely blown away. Bricks struck cars and nearby businesses. They flew across the street in the blast along with other debris like steel beams, rebar and large metal pieces.
I Schumann & Co LLC, which calls itself a fourth-generation family-owned and managed business, “recycles and trades a wide variety of scrap and produces brass and bronze alloys in ingot and pellet forms,” according to its website.
Oakwood fire officials said the cause of the explosion remains under investigation but it appears that the blast originated at or near a kettle-like piece of equipment at the foundry, which holds molten metals before being poured into moulds.
Local officials have been working with the State Fire Marshal, EPA, ATF and OSHA since Monday afternoon in the investigation of the explosion and fire.
Sources: Associated Press, CNN, News 5 Cleveland
Emergency crews were called to the I Schumann & Co copper alloy company located in the 22500 block of Alexander Road in Oakwood in Cleveland shortly before 15h00. The business is a brass and bronze alloy manufacturer. The blast shook the ground and scattered debris for a couple of hundred yards, damaging several vehicles, while the fire sent smoke billowing to the sky in a cloud visible for miles.
Captain DiRocco said more than 50 fire fighters from 14 area departments provided mutual assistance, many of whom stayed throughout the night to help secure the scene. The explosion, which some witnesses described as a bomb going off, caused extensive and catastrophic damage to the building, effectively blowing out the entire exterior wall on the northern edge of the plant. Large chunks of brick, stone, pipes, even part of a steel I-beam, were launched more than a football field from the site. The blast also appears to have blown open a large hole in the roof of the facility.
Oakwood immediately called upon mutual aid after arriving on scene Monday afternoon. With the fire located in the area of Walton Hills and Oakwood, many rural fire departments responded.
Captain DiRocco said that one person had to be pulled from the debris and was treated while being taken to a medical helicopter. A number of people had burn injuries but all plant staff had been accounted for and the fire was under control with crews mopping up hot spots, he said.
The bulk of the fire was out as of 17h00 on Monday.
A 46-year-old maintenance worker has been identified as the lone death in a massive explosion and fire at a metal foundry in Oakwood Monday afternoon. The victim, identified as Steven Mullins, had been working at I Schumann & Co for nearly 30 years, according to company officials.
A total of 13 other workers were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire. Authorities said there were multiple burn victims taken from inside the plant to nearby hospitals. One person was taken by LifeFlight helicopter and flown to a hospital for treatment. Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Oakwood fire officials said the cause of the explosion remains under investigation but it appears that the blast originated at or near a kettle-like piece of equipment at the foundry, which holds molten metals before being poured into moulds.
Captain DiRocco said the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office has taken the lead on the investigation due to its size, complexity and Mullins' death. "The [damage in] the interior of the building is pretty catastrophic. We were working this morning with a structural engineer to see where was safe for us to conduct our investigation," DiRocco said. "The damage is pretty extensive. This morning, the investigators were combing through the debris trying to find the origin and the cause."
DiRocco said the facility underwent annual fire inspections. "It’s the largest fire I have ever had to handle," Dirocco said. "It’s one of the largest here in Oakwood in a very long time. When we arrived on scene, there was a very large debris field, which is essentially that front half of the building which blew off."
The company released the following statement about the explosion, "An explosion of unknown origin struck our Bedford, Ohio facility today resulting in injuries to employees and significant damage to the facility. Our efforts now are focused on supporting the first responders who came on scene quickly to help our employees. The safety and health of our employees is our top priority and we commit to ensuring they receive the medical care they need. We will work alongside investigators in their search for answers as part of our commitment to Northeast Ohio where we have been operating for more than 100 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with our team members and their families at this difficult time."
When asked what would or could cause an explosion of that magnitude, DiRocco said he couldn't speculate. "There are several causes to explosions. What caused it there... I couldn't speak on that," Capt. DiRocco said. "The building was in good standing. The have been in the village for a very long time. Any time they have had a violation, even if it is a small one, they have fixed whatever it is."
Monday's explosion was so powerful, bricks from the building were thrown across the parking lot. The brick wall of the building was completely blown away. Bricks struck cars and nearby businesses. They flew across the street in the blast along with other debris like steel beams, rebar and large metal pieces.
I Schumann & Co LLC, which calls itself a fourth-generation family-owned and managed business, “recycles and trades a wide variety of scrap and produces brass and bronze alloys in ingot and pellet forms,” according to its website.
Oakwood fire officials said the cause of the explosion remains under investigation but it appears that the blast originated at or near a kettle-like piece of equipment at the foundry, which holds molten metals before being poured into moulds.
Local officials have been working with the State Fire Marshal, EPA, ATF and OSHA since Monday afternoon in the investigation of the explosion and fire.
Sources: Associated Press, CNN, News 5 Cleveland
