Molten glass oozed like lava from ruptured tank in Ohio factory
by The Associated Press
Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of molten glass wrapped around structural beams, threatening to collapse a plant owned by glass container maker Owens-Illinois
ZANESVILLE, Ohio—Authorities say 272,156 metric tonnes of molten glass spilled from a ruptured tank at an Ohio plant, oozing like lava from a small hole that quickly grew several feet wide.
It wrapped around structural beams at the Owens-Illinois glass plant in Zanesville on Aug. 8. Firefighters worked for hours to cool the glass so it wouldn’t destroy the beams and collapse the building.
No injuries were reported.
Owens-Illinois tells the Zanesville Times Recorder that employees followed safety protocols. The damage is being assessed.
South Zanesville Fire Chief Russell Taylor says the rupture started with a hole that quickly grew.
He says firefighters were prepared because he and other area fire officials had taken the precaution of talking with the plant in recent weeks about how to handle a potential rupture.
