National Magnesium & Aluminum Foundry, 4817 Industrial Road, was the site of a magnesium fire Tuesday afternoon that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to four others. An investigation into the incident continues.
The name of an employee who died after a magnesium fire at National Magnesium & Aluminum Foundry was released Wednesday afternoon.
Edel Laguna, 42, died from accidental severe thermal injury, the Allen County Coroners Office said. Laguna was inside the northside Industrial Road business when it caught fire Tuesday afternoon.
At least four other male employees, of about 14 who worked there, were hurt in the fire. One of the four, the foundry owners son, Kevin McNabb, was in critical condition this morning at St. Joseph Hospital. Two other employees were in serious condition this morning; another was treated for injuries and released from the hospital Tuesday. The names of the other injured employees have not been released.
Messages were left Wednesday and this morning with foundry owner Nancy McNabb, but she could not be reached for comment. The business remained closed this morning.
The incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Fire Department, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Allen County Coroners Office. The Indiana Department of Labor received an initial report Tuesday, but an investigator was prevented from entering the building because of still-smoldering magnesium, said Tim Grogg, deputy commissioner of legal affairs for the department. He said investigators will work with local agencies and likely will submit an internal report within a month.
The process to determine whether there were any safety violations that contributed to the fire will begin after the internal report is submitted, he said.
Distributed by the Associated Press
