Benefit set for 2 hurt in explosion
By jeanne starmack
struthers
Two men who were burned in an explosion at the Struthers Wastewater Treatment Plant are getting a lot of community support for their long recovery ahead.
Ken Stiver, the plant’s lead maintenance man, and Gary Wilson, the assistant maintenance man, were in a methane-gas explosion at the plant March 1. Authorities said there was a methane buildup in a room where Stiver and Wilson were working on electric wiring. A spark from the wiring likely ignited the gas.
The men, who suffered second- and third-degree burns over 95 percent of their bodies, have been in the burn unit of UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh since the accident.
“Both will be in the hospital for a very, very long time, and it’s touch and go every day,” said Bill Cabuno of Boardman, Wilson’s brother-in-law.
Cabuno said the men are still in critical condition and have been in induced comas.
Cabuno said his sister, Judy, stays in Pittsburgh near the hospital.
To help both families with expenses, Cabuno is organizing a spaghetti dinner.
Cabuno also said he welcomes donations of money or goods from businesses for a silent auction at the dinner.
People also can donate to any PNC Bank branch. Make checks payable to the Wilson-Stiver Trust Fund.
Other fundraising efforts have benefited the families. Firefighters from Struthers and Poland raised $3,500 for each family, Cabuno said.
Firefighters also will be helping in the kitchen at the spaghetti dinner.
City officials said they are making trips to Pittsburgh to check on the families.
Council members Tony Fire and Carol Crytzer said earlier this month they have visited. Mayor Terry Stocker said he went to Pittsburgh Tuesday to make sure the families have everything they need.
Authorities do not yet know why methane gas built up before the blast. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation said Tuesday it’s still investigating.
Stocker said the blast occurred in the gas- compression room, which is between two large machines called digesters. The digesters break down human and industrial waste, or sludge.
The digesters are not running while the investigation continues, assistant plant manager Nick Jordan told The Vindicator earlier this month. If they reach capacity, the plant will run the sludge through a filter press.
Stocker said the caked sludge would be sent to a landfill.