Metal thefts make plant unstable

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — City officials are assessing the stability of the former Shenango China plant after it was discovered that thieves had been stripping the building of copper and aluminum.

New Castle Fire Chief Tom Bulisco said the fire department returned to the building Friday after putting out numerous fires the previous day. The fires were apparently set by copper wire thieves trying to burn off the wire’s insulation.

“The plant is just like it was when [Shenango China] left. There are tons of dish moldings stacked everywhere. We are worried it might collapse,” he said.

The removal of the copper and aluminum has weakened the structure, and much of the building’s roof is gone. It has not been in operation since the 1980s, he said.

Firefighters were alerted to Thursday’s fire after smoke filled an attached building that still houses Shenango Advanced Ceramics on McCleary Avenue, Bulisco said.

Firefighters said when they arrived at 1:30 p.m., they found several small fires set inside the building, each containing copper wire wrapped in asbestos insulation. Bulisco said they believe thieves were burning off the insulation to sell the wire, but the roofless building became smoke filled when a heavy rain came down.

Bulisco said it appears that thieves had been working inside the building for some time.

Bulisco said they were able to see two people in the smoke-filled building with thermal imaging cameras and alerted police.

Police Chief Tom Sansone said one person was brought in for questioning, but no charges had been filed as of Friday.

cioffi@vindy.com