Smith Township, Pa. — An explosion at Langeloth Metallurgical Company Thursday evening rattled nearby residents and resulted in several minor injuries. The incident, which occurred around 6:15 p.m., led to multiple 911 calls as the noise and tremors from the blast startled those living nearby.
David Russell, a local resident, described the moment the explosion occurred. “My wife and I were just sitting at home watching TV when everything shook,” Russell said. “It felt like the roof had come off our house. We were both anxious to see if there was any damage.”
The Slovan/Smith Township Fire Department reported that the explosion stemmed from a mix-up involving a tanker truck that was transferring magnesium chloride into a storage tank that contained hydrogen peroxide. Fire Chief Brandon Kriznik confirmed that five individuals were hospitalized, including the truck driver, with minor injuries. The driver was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, while the others were treated at Weirton Medical Center in West Virginia.
Gerry Coleman, the Washington County Public Safety Director, stated that damage was primarily confined to storage tanks and a nearby lunchroom. “Although the explosion was significant, it was quite contained and brought under control quickly,” Coleman remarked on Friday. He noted that the frigid temperatures may have played a role in ensuring worker safety, with many kept away from the scene at the time of the explosion.
While the situation was managed effectively, Chief Kriznik criticized the company’s initial response, highlighting that emergency responders faced challenges gaining access to the site. “We struggled to get past the security gate and had a hard time communicating with plant officials,” Kriznik said. “It took us 20 minutes just to get the necessary information.”
Langeloth Metallurgical did not respond to requests for comment, and records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicated no recent violations at the facility. However, as emergency crews arrived, their primary focus shifted to air quality monitoring, given the potential hazards involved.
“We had fire departments on standby in case we needed to evacuate anyone,” Kriznik added, emphasizing the importance of safety protocols during such emergencies.
As a precaution, a shelter-in-place order was implemented for surrounding residents but was lifted after about two hours. Investigations by both the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency are currently underway to determine the explosion’s cause.
In addition to local fire departments from Midway, McDonald, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson Township, and Fort Cherry EMS, emergency personnel responded swiftly to ensure the safety of the community and manage the aftermath of the incident.