ArcelorMittal Dofasco Reports No Damage from Christmas Day Eruption

Residents in Hamilton, Ontario, were startled by explosions and reddish-brown smoke emanating from ArcelorMittal Dofasco on Christmas day. At around 11:10 a.m., a reaction between water and liquid iron ore occurred during the slag casting process at the No. 4 blast furnace, creating a series of eruptions and air emissions. There were no injuries from the blasts, the company said.

Spokesperson Marie Verdun said in an update: “The incident was a series of eruptions that occurred during the Slag Casting process – when slag and molten iron from the Blast Furnace are separated and the slag is cast. In this case, liquid slag/iron came into contact with moisture, which caused the eruptions. (The blast furnace produces liquid iron used in steelmaking. Slag, a byproduct, is cast, then pelletized and used in aggregate applications).”