Photo: PBNJ Productions / Tetra images / Getty Images
Firefighters were dispatched to 913 Bowman Street on Tuesday, May 1, at 4:05 a.m. in response to a fire at Cleveland Cliffs Mansfield Works, formerly AK Steel. Upon arrival, crews encountered a heavily involved fire, fed by a natural gas leak.
Our firefighters worked closely with maintenance crews to turn off the gas line and isolate the leak, before extinguishing the fire.
Steel manufacturing involves several processes that pose a risk to firefighter safety, utilities used such as large-diameter gas lines and high voltage require additional resources. As a result, the firefighters requested assistance from Columbia Gas to help with the leak.
Due to the quick actions of Cleveland Cliffs staff and the responding fire crews, the plant reported no stop in production and operations will continue at full capacity as soon as repairs can be made.
At 5:17 a.m., the firefighters cleared the scene.
One firefighter was treated at the scene for a minor injury.