UPDATE: Explosion injures 10 at Illinois steel plant

UPDATE: Explosion injures 10 at Illinois steel plant

GRANITE CITY, Ill. - Up to 10 workers were injured this morning in an apparent gas explosion at the American Steel plant in Granite City, authorities said.

Granite City Assistant Fire Chief Jim Snelson said gas ignited near a grinding machine shortly before 8 a.m. CST today.

Three of the 10 workers were in critical condition today after being flown by medical helicopters to St. Louis-area hospitals, according to hospital staff. At least one of them was burned and others may have suffered inhalation burns.

Seven of the workers were being treated for smoke inhalation at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City. A hospital spokeswoman said their conditions ranged from “stable to guarded.” Three of the workers were released today.

Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur was treating two of the patients, said Bethany Pope, a Mercy spokeswoman. Both were in critical condition.

American Steel Foundries is a division of Amsted Rail Co.

No one from the company was available for comment today. Scott Hassall, business manager for Electrical Workers Local 309 that represents some plant employees, said the blast was in an area where the plant produces bolsters, or heavy central frames for railroad car wheel trucks.

Hassall said he could not talk about the incident but could only explain what the line produces where it happened. He said the plant casts the bolsters and then finishes the cooled product with grinding machines. He said the explosion occurred where the grinding, or finishing, takes place.