Explosion Causes Damage at Burns Harbor Steel Mill in Indiana

BURNS HARBOR, Ind. (AP) -- An explosion started a fire in a northwestern Indiana steel mill on Wednesday, but no one was injured and no serious damage was reported, a spokeswoman said.

The explosion at the International Steel Group mill along Lake Michigan happened when a steel byproduct from a blast furnace dropped into a pit, where it came into contact with water, spokeswoman Jo Pojeta said.

Debris from the explosion, which happened about 7 a.m., started fires at a nearby trailer and trash bin but those fires were soon extinguished, she said.

The explosion caused no interruptions to operations at the mill at the Port of Indiana about 15 miles east of Gary.