Five workers burned in AK flash-fire
By Joseph Roberts,
Journal Staff Writer, E-mail: jroberts@coxohio.com
Two employees were taken to the hospital and three were treated
at AK Steel’s medical facility Monday after a flash-fire in the coke
plant near Oxford State Road.
The crew was doing maintenance work on a pipe when escaped
coke-oven gas ignited at 2:19 p.m. Flash-fires typically flare-up
quickly and die down once their fuel is spent. Middletown Deputy
Fire Chief Jim Hall said the blaze was already out when firefighters
arrived.
“It went out immediately as soon as it burned up the fuel,” Hall
said. Two ambulances and two fire engines responded.
Alan McCoy, AK’s vice president of public affairs, said two of
the employees received second-degree burns about their faces and
hands. They were taken to Middletown Regional Hospital by ambulance.
The others suffered first-degree burns in the same areas, he said.
Hall and McCoy both said none of the injuries was serious. McCoy
said that all of the employers were observed, treated and released.
One of the employees was back at work Monday evening, while the
others were expected back to work today, McCoy said.
Hall said the fire did not cause any damage to the facility.
McCoy said the fire did not stop the plant’s operations, but its
cause is under investigation.
“These employees were performing routine maintenance,” he said.
“Something caused a flashback, and that’s what we’re investigating
now.”
Published 04.15.03
