Here are the latest details on the fatal explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works.
Gov. Shapiro headed to town
Gov. Josh Shapiro will visit the site at 1 p.m. today for a press conference. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and other local officials will also be on hand to provide updates.
“Our prayers remain with the steelworkers and their families during this difficult time,” Shapiro said on Monday.
Allegheny County Health Department officials will host a news briefing on air quality at 2:30 p.m. today.
2 deaths
Two people were killed in the Monday explosion. A Westmoreland County man, Timothy Quinn, 39, was one of the workers who died. A second man, not identified, was pulled from the rubble Monday evening after authorities had spent hours combing the blast site for signs of life. Quinn was a father of three.
Previous stories about Clairton Coke Works
TribLive wrote a lengthy story in 2019 about safety at Clairton Coke Works and air pollution. On Dec. 24, 2018, a gas-fueled fire tore through the plant’s No. 2 Control Room, burning for about two hours and twisting 10-inch beams that supported the roof. Critical equipment used to clean coke oven gas was damaged and pollution control systems were shut down.
The 2018 fire prompted the TribLive investigation.
TribLive has also kept track with fines against Clairton Coke Works.
Other accidents
TribLive compiled a list of other accidents over the years at Clairton Coke Works. Before Monday, the most recent accident was Feb. 5, when a hydraulic issue caused an explosion that hurt two people.
Reaction from officials
Local leaders and officials expressed concern and support following Monday’s explosion. Click here to read their statements.
