Explosion at Ohio plant kills worker, injures 13

Ohio officials are investigating the cause of Monday’s explosion at a copper plant in the Cleveland suburb of Oakwood Village. Maintenance worker Steven Mullins, 46, was killed in the blast, and 13 others were hospitalized. The explosion and subsequent fire scattered molten metal, brick, and concrete over hundreds of yards. Witnesses say they smelled burning rubber and saw smoke from miles away.

What was the likely cause of the fire? Fire investigators said the explosion probably occurred in the building’s foundry, where molten metals are held in kettles. I. Schumann & Co. recycles and trades a wide variety of scrap and produces brass and bronze alloys in ingot and pellet forms.

Dig deeper: Read Mary Muncy’s report about Ohio’s train derailment fire, another recent disaster in the state.