Catastrophic blast at US Steel factory in Pennsylvania results in 2 fatalities and 10 injuries
In the early hours of Monday, a devastating explosion rocked a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh. The cause of the explosion, as documented in available sources, remains unclear. However, a similar incident at the Clairton Coke Works in February 2025 offers some insight into the potential hazards at the plant.
The 2025 explosion was reportedly triggered by a buildup of combustible material due to a problem with a battery, leading to a large blast. This incident resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries, and investigations were ongoing at the time without a definitive public disclosure on the root cause.
Returning to the 2021 explosion, the available information does not provide direct details or a confirmed cause. The context of the 2025 explosion suggests that the nature of the hazards at the plant may involve coke batteries where coal is baked at high temperatures to create coke gas—a dangerous mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide that can be explosive.
The aftermath of the 2021 explosion was significant. The fire damaged pollution control equipment, leading to repeated releases of sulfur dioxide. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) was treating three patients at UPMC Mercy, the region's only level one trauma and burn center.
Allegheny County warned residents to limit outdoor activities after the fire, with many reporting that the air felt acidic, smelled like rotten eggs, and was hard to breathe. Allegheny Health Network treated seven patients from the plant, discharging five within a few hours.
Dr. Deborah Gentile, the medical director of Community Partners in Asthma Care, found twice as many patients sought medical treatment after the fire. One of her colleagues found patients living near the plant had increased symptoms of asthma, including coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Two people died in the explosion, and at least 10 were sent to hospitals. The U.S. Steel CEO, David B. Burritt, has committed to thoroughly investigating the cause of the explosion.
The explosion caused heavy damage to the sprawling facility, home to approximately 1,400 workers. It's worth noting that the Clairton plant has a long history of pollution concerns, with a lawsuit stemming from a Christmas Eve fire in 2018 that caused $40 million in damage. In 2019, the plant agreed to settle an air pollution lawsuit for $8.5 million.
Five years later, the company agreed to spend $19.5 million on equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean air efforts and programs. Clairton resident Amy Sowers felt her house shake from the blast and left the area after smelling a faint smell in the air.
In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a "buildup of combustible material" that ignited, causing an audible "boom," and two workers received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. The Clairton coking plant continued to operate after the explosion, although two batteries that were the site of the explosion were shut down.
The exact cause of the 2021 explosion remains under investigation, but the similarities with the 2025 incident suggest that coke battery issues could be a potential cause. As investigations continue, the community remains vigilant, hoping for a safer future for the workers and the environment.
- The explosion at the U.S. Steel plant in Pittsburgh, though still under investigation, appears to have some similarities with a 2025 incident at the Clairton Coke Works, suggesting coke battery issues could be a potential cause.
- The 2025 explosion was linked to a buildup of combustible material due to a problem with a battery, leading to a large blast that resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries.
- The aftermath of the 2021 explosion led to damage to pollution control equipment, causing repeated releases of sulfur dioxide, and resulting in three patients being treated at UPMC Mercy, the region's only level one trauma and burn center.
- Allegheny County officials advised residents to limit outdoor activities after the explosion due to acidic air, a rotten egg smell, and difficulty breathing. Allegheny Health Network treated seven patients from the plant, discharging five within a few hours.
- Dr. Deborah Gentile reported a significant increase in patients seeking medical treatment after the explosion, with some nearby residents experiencing increased symptoms of asthma such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
- Despite the damage, the Clairton plant, which employs approximately 1,400 workers, continued to operate after the explosion, with two batteries that were the site of the explosion temporarily shut down.
- Investigations are ongoing into the exact cause of the 2021 explosion, with the U.S. Steel CEO, David B. Burritt, pledging to thoroughly investigate the incident for the safety of the workers and the environment.
