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Another fire breaks out at Clairton Coke Works; health department warns ‘sensitive populations’

2 min read
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U.S. Steel notified the Allegheny County Health Department Monday morning of a fire at its Clairton Coke Works in the Mon Valley.

Firefighters were called at 4:43 a.m. when what the company called “a small electrical fire was detected on a breaker panel,” adding that  there were no injuries.

Control rooms 1, 2 and 5 were shut down because of the fire. The latter two, which hold the equipment and controls necessary to clean the coke oven gases, remained shut down.

In a statement posted on its website, U.S. Steel noted, “We are following mitigation steps to include replacing coke oven gas with natural gas and flaring while we work to repair the damaged equipment.” 

These are the same two control rooms that were immediately shut down following a Dec. 24 fire.

While these control rooms remain offline, there is no desulfurization of coke oven gas. Health department inspectors on-site were instructed to observe the damage, and the department responded with an emergency order requiring U.S. Steel to comply with its hydrogen sulfide standard and sulfur dioxide limits.

The steelmaker had 24 hours to submit a plan to the health department about how it will comply.

As of noon Monday, the health department observed no elevated sulfur dioxide levels at air-quality monitors in the Mon Valley. The department notified school nurses and pediatricians in the area in addition to checking on emergency room visits.

Those with respiratory conditions, children and the elderly should be aware of the potential for elevated levels of sulfur dioxide.

In a statement issued Monday evening, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald expressed “disappointment” there had been a repeat of the Christmas Eve episode and said, “Organizations with critical systems like hospitals have to ensure there are redundancies and backups. U.S. Steel shouldn’t be any different…. The health of the people of Clairton and surrounding communities, and the U.S. Steel employees, is too important to do otherwise.” 

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