MIKE STARTS RIGHT NOW. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR BEGINS WITH BREAKING NEWS. WE’RE GOING TO BEGIN TONIGHT WITH BREAKING NEWS AT 6:00. U.S. STEEL PROVIDING AN UPDATE TONIGHT TO THE DEADLY EXPLOSION AT THE CLAIRTON COKE WORKS TOMORROW. U.S. STEEL WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING COKE FROM THE OVENS AT THE FACILITY. THIS IS IN ORDER TO INSPECT ANY DAMAGE TO THE OVENS AND DETERMINE IF THEY CAN BE REPAIRED. THE NEXT STEP IN THAT PROCESS IS PLACING THEM INTO WHAT THEY CALL HOT IDLE STATE. TO MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY. NO COOKING OR PRODUCTION WILL BE TAKING PLACE, AND WE’RE TOLD THIS PROCESS SHOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS. U.S. STEEL SAYS THEY DO NOT EXPECT ANY ELEVATED NON PARTICULATE POLLUTION DURING THIS PROCESS, BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME ASHY PARTICLES TO BE RELEASED AS THE COKE IS REMOVED FROM THE OVENS. THE COMPANY SAYS THEY ARE WORKING TO MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL EMISSIONS AND KEEPING THE A
U.S. Steel to begin coke removal from ovens following fatal Clairton plant explosion
Updated: 6:15 PM EDT Aug 26, 2025
U.S. Steel issued a statement Tuesday, saying it will begin the process of removing coke from the ovens at the Clairton Coke plant facility weeks following a deadly explosion. Officials said on Wednesday, U. S. Steel plans to begin the process of removing the coke from batteries #13 and #14 to inspect for any damage to the ovens and determine if they can be repaired. The next step in that process, the release said, is placing them into a hot idle state to maintain their integrity. No coking or production will be taking place. “Without placing them on hot idle, the batteries will not be able to function ever again,” U.S. Steel said in the statement. “We expect this process to take a few days, and we do not expect any elevated non-particulate pollution as a result of this process. There is potential for some ashy particles to be released as the coke is removed from the ovens.”The release said U. S. Steel is working to mitigate any potential emissions and to keep the Allegheny County Health Department informed. The update comes nearly three weeks after an explosion the the plant killed two people and injured at least 10 others. OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
CLAIRTON, Pa. —
U.S. Steel issued a statement Tuesday, saying it will begin the process of removing coke from the ovens at the Clairton Coke plant facility weeks following a deadly explosion.
Officials said on Wednesday, U. S. Steel plans to begin the process of removing the coke from batteries #13 and #14 to inspect for any damage to the ovens and determine if they can be repaired.
The next step in that process, the release said, is placing them into a hot idle state to maintain their integrity.
No coking or production will be taking place.
“Without placing them on hot idle, the batteries will not be able to function ever again,” U.S. Steel said in the statement. “We expect this process to take a few days, and we do not expect any elevated non-particulate pollution as a result of this process. There is potential for some ashy particles to be released as the coke is removed from the ovens.”
The release said U. S. Steel is working to mitigate any potential emissions and to keep the Allegheny County Health Department informed.
The update comes nearly three weeks after an explosion the the plant killed two people and injured at least 10 others.
OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE: