October 14, 2008

Minor fire at SDI Roanoke Bar Division

It is reported that a wood and metal cooling tower that was undergoing demolition caught fire at Steel Dynamics Roanoke Bar Division. No one was injured in this fire. Damage estimates have yet to be released.

The tower was in the process of being demolished by an outside contractor when a cutting torch being used to cut metal piping inadvertently ignited 30 year old redwood fins. The fire department was called after it was immediately determined the fire could not be controlled with three fire extinguishers in the vicinity.

When firefighters arrived, they found part of one building on fire. At first, it was believed that asbestos was burning inside the plant. After the fire was extinguished, it was determined that there was no asbestos danger to crews or the community.

The plant used to be called Roanoke Electric Steel but was renamed Steel Dynamics Inc Roanoke Bar Division. In April 2006, Steel Dynamics Inc and Roanoke Electric Steel merged and Roanoke Electric Steel became a wholly owned subsidiary of SDI.