Explosions rocked Middletowns AK Steel plant Sunday night, sending two management workers to a local hospital. The 11:30 p.m. blast shook up locked-out union workers and people living all over the city.
Firefighters said the explosions came from the area of the blast furnace. Fire officials and company officials think it was a steam explosion from a slag pit.
One man said the explosion sent a big mushroom cloud into the air about 100 to 150 feet.
Firefighters said they actually heard two small explosions first and then a larger one right after. Firefighters quickly controlled the 15-20 different fires and believe that production time will not be lost.
Some locked-out workers think the situation should have never happened. One worker said, "If they had the right people in there, not those without a clue about what they're doing, they wouldn't have problems like this."
A company official said hot metal contacting with water created the explosion. Workers said there was probably water in the slag pit and then someone poured iron in the pit.
One of the injured workers suffered chest pain and smoke inhalation. The other workers suffered serious burns to his neck and face.
Officials said none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.
Copyright 2006 by . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
