Tank of molten glass erupted 'like a volcano'

ZANESVILLE - At 10 a.m. on Monday, South Zanesville Fire Chief Russell Taylor met with engineers at the Owens-Illinois glass plant on State Street to discuss the possibility of a tank rupture.

A few hours later, the bottom of a tank ruptured.

"Basically like a volcano," Taylor said.

Three hundred tons of molten glass spilled into the facility, he said. The molten glass wrapped itself around structural beams, causing deep concern that the glass would melt the beams and the building would collapse. Taylor added that those who live closeby are not in any danger.

Every fire department in the county was called to the scene, and Taylor said they would probably be there until midnight, trying to keep the glass cool enough that it doesn't destroy the beams.

No injuries were reported, but firefighters could only stand to be in the building a few minutes at a time, because of the heat. Groups would rotate every 15 minutes, Taylor said.

"It's a fight right now," he said Monday afternoon.

In an email, Ryan McCarthy, communications manager for North America for Owens-Illinois, said all employees followed proper safety protocols after the rupture.

"O-I appreciates the assistance of local fire crews in responding to the incident, which was quickly contained," McCarthy stated. "Production at the plant has been partially impacted by the furnace leak, and we are still assessing the extent of the damage and the necessary repairs to get back up and running at full capacity."

Some equipment was destroyed when the glass leaked out, Taylor said, and the tank itself is ruined. The hole was small at first, and then grew to a 10-foot x 10-foot giant in just 20 seconds.

In the past two weeks, Taylor said members of every fire department in the county toured the glass plant to prepare for a possible rupture, which the company had apparently been aware could happen, he added.

The preparation paid off, Taylor said, and the responses by the various fire departments had been great.

Because so many emergency resources were busy at the plant, Bo Keck, Muskingum County EMA director, said other counties were brought in to cover any other emergencies in Muskingum County.

Licking, Guernsey, Coshocton and Morgan counties were prepared to dispatch resources along with the four out-of-county fire engines that were sent to cover Dresden and Zanesville, Keck said.

"We have everybody covered," he said.

ksnyder2@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6752

Twitter: @KL_Snyder