Gerdau Steel does not expect production delays from a 15-hour fire at its steel mill in St. Paul, Minnesota that temporarily impacted operations.
According to Adam Parr, Gerdau’s director of communications and public affairs, there were no injuries and normal operations have resumed. Parr also said that the company does not anticipate any customer impact as a result of the incident.
The fire occurred overnight and into Saturday Nov 30 at the steel mill’s shredder, and according to local reports, the flames rose as high as 70 feet and were visible from miles away. Inclement weather, including snow and sleet, complicated firefighters’ efforts, resulting in a 15-hour long operation to suppress the inferno.
The cause of the fire has not been determined yet.
This isn’t the first time the steel mill has dealt with adversity. In 2013, it laid off 31 workers and underwent a $50mn upgrade. The mill’s fortunes have improved in recent years, which include a visit from US Vice President Mike Pence, right after the United States-Mexico-Canada trade deal.