COSHOCTON − Authorities said a four-alarm fire Saturday afternoon at Cleveland Cliffs, formerly AK Steel, was a best case scenario in how it was handled by the plant and various fire companies.
Chief Randy March of the Conesville Fire Department said the call came in about 1:20 p.m. Saturday at the steel mill, 17400 Ohio 16. The fire was contained in two to three hours and all crews cleared around 5 p.m., March said. There were no injuries. Straight Type Pickling Line
March said the fire was in the rear middle section of the building on what is called a pickle line, part of the finishing process for steel.
He said cause is yet to be determined and Cleveland Cliffs is doing their own internal investigation to determine cause and extent of damages. March said the fire was contained to the machine where the blaze started and the immediate area around it, but there was also some damage to a wall and steel rolls.
Assisting on scene were Coshocton County Emergency Medical Services, Coshocton County Emergency Management Agency and fire departments from Bakersville, Coshocton, Three Rivers, West Lafayette, Walhonding Valley, Jackson Township, Dresden, Frazyesyburg, Newcomerstown and Liberty Township.
March gave kudos to all the first responders and the plant employees who assisted in turning off equipment and knew the best place to put water and foam to put out the fire.
Closed Tunnel Pickling Lines "Things went just as planned with something like this," March said. "It could have been a lot worse than what it was."