2016 Bethlehem Steel fire
{{Short description|Industrial fire in New York, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Old news|date=March 2024}}{{Infobox event
|image = File:Bethlehem_steel_fire.jpg
|caption = View of fire from NYS Route 5
|time = 7:30 a.m.
|date = November 9, 2016
|location = Lackawanna, New York, U.S.
|coordinates=
{{coord|42.8092|N|78.8447|W|type:event_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
|cause = Unknown
|casualties1 = 0 dead
|casualties2 = 1 injured
}}
On November 9, 2016, around 7:30 a.m., a major fire broke out at a {{convert|1|e6sqft|m2|adj=on}} galvanizing warehouse that was formerly part of the now-vacated Bethlehem Steel complex in Lackawanna, New York, just south of Buffalo.{{Cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2016/11/10/makes-lackawanna-fire-hard-fight/|title=What makes fighting the Bethlehem fire so difficult|last=Michel|first=Lou|date=2016-11-10|website=The Buffalo News|access-date=2016-11-11}} The fire was said to have been caused by a hot bulb which fell and struck cardboard inside of the building, igniting the structure, although this has not been confirmed. Subsequently, a thick ash cloud extended {{cvt|30|mi}} south of the accident site, viewable from Canada, Eden, New York, and weather radars.{{Cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2016/11/10/lackawanna-blaze-disrupts-traffic-prompts-school-closures/|title=Lackawanna blaze disrupts traffic, prompts school closures|date=2016-11-10|website=The Buffalo News|access-date=2016-11-11}} Hundreds of firefighters from area departments,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/nyregion/bethlehem-steel-fire.html|title=Fire Engulfs Former Bethlehem Steel Factory in New York|last=Rosenberg|first=Eli|date=2016-11-09|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-11-11}} including the Buffalo Fire Department, assisted in rescue operations, which resulted in one injury.{{Cite news|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/11/09/major-fire-bethlehem-steel-site/93535196/|title=Official: Hot bulb sparked massive Bethlehem Steel site fire|newspaper=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|access-date=2016-11-11}}
Aftermath
Throughout the day, chunks of ash were carried south by a plume to the town of Hamburg. The poor air quality affected school and businesses downwind from the scene of the fire, and led to the evacuation of 300 households in the immediate area.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/former-steel-mill-fire-prompts-evacuation-of-300-homes-in-new-york/|title=Former steel mill fire prompts evacuation of 300 homes in New York|date=2016-11-10|newspaper=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-11}} Frontier Central School District evacuated several of its schools to different districts and remained closed the next day.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/schools-effected-by-lackawanna-fire/350591590|title=Schools affected by Lackawanna fire|last=TEGNA|newspaper=WGRZ|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-11}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} West Seneca and Lake Shore school districts held a shelter in place for students as they were further from the accident site.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/major-fire-at-bethlehem-steel-site/350367496|title=Major fire at Bethlehem Steel site contained|last=TEGNA|newspaper=WGRZ|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-11}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In addition, {{convert|3.5|e6USgal|m3|abbr=off|sp=us}} of water were used to fight the fire.
On November 10, Governor Andrew Cuomo toured the site and announced that state officials would further monitor air quality in the surrounding areas.{{Cite web|url=http://wivb.com/2016/11/10/rt-5-remains-closed-schools-closed-as-crews-battle-fire-at-former-bethlehem-steel-site/|title=Rt. 5 remains closed as evacuations begin, Gov. Cuomo visits scene of Lackawanna fire|last=Alex|first=Katie|last2=er|date=2016-11-10|website=wivb.com|access-date=2016-11-11|last3=Reporter|first3=News 4|archive-date=2016-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111122901/http://wivb.com/2016/11/10/rt-5-remains-closed-schools-closed-as-crews-battle-fire-at-former-bethlehem-steel-site/|url-status=dead}}
Emergency demolition commenced on November 10 and continued the next day.{{Cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2016/11/11/day-3-route-5-remains-closed-lackawanna-fire-burns/|title=Residents evacuated near Bethlehem fire allowed to return home|date=2016-11-11|website=The Buffalo News|access-date=2016-11-12}}
On September 21, 2017, the Buffalo Fire Department closed the 10-month investigation as "undetermined."{{Cite news|url=http://buffalonews.com/2017/09/21/cause-massive-bethlehem-steel-site-fire-undetermined-investigators-say/|title=Cause of massive Bethlehem Steel site fire is 'undetermined,' investigators say|date=2017-09-21|work=The Buffalo News|access-date=2017-09-21|language=en-US}}
References
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Category:Industrial fires and explosions in the United States
Category:2016 fires in the United States
Category:2016 in New York (state)
Category:Fires in New York (state)