Emergency crews were called to an explosion at I. Schumann & Co., located in Oakwood, Ohio. The explosion sparked a large fire and sent more than a dozen people to hospitals, with at least one person dying from their injuries, authorities said.
The blast scattered debris for a couple of hundred yards, damaging several vehicles, while the fire caused a smoke cloud visible for miles.
Firefighters were able to get the fire under control quickly.
Oakwood Fire Captain Brian DiRocco said that 13 people were transferred to several area hospitals.
Authorities confirmed 46 year old Steve Mullins died from his injuries. He was a maintenance worker at the plant.
I. Schumann & Co. LLC, which is a fourth-generation family-owned and managed business, “recycles and trades a wide variety of scrap and produces brass and bronze alloys in ingot and pellet forms,” according to its website.
The company said in a statement that “an explosion of unknown origin” injured employees and significantly damaged its facility.
The I. Schumann statement added, “We will work alongside investigators in their search for answers as part of our commitment to Northeast Ohio, where we have been operating for more than 100 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with our team members and their families at this difficult time.”