Fire causes slight production disruption at WCI

WARREN – Production of hot metal used in the steel making process at WCI Steel has resumed after a fire broke out in the blast furnace in Warren Township

A company spokeswoman said Wednesday that a bleeder valve that controls gas emissions from the furnace malfunctioned, causing a brief plume of fire to billow about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was extinguished by workers.

Although fire departments from Warren and Howland townships and Lordstown and city of Warren responded, they were no need for them, said a spokesman for the Warren Township department.

“It looked more exciting that it was,” the spokesman said.

There were no injuries or damage, she noted, and metal production resumed later in the night.