Investigation underway after explosion leaves 1 dead, 13 hurt at Oakwood factory

Police and fire officials held a press conference Tuesday less than 24 hours after a deadly explosion at an Oakwood Village factory.

Oakwood Fire Capt. Brian DiRocco confirmed one person was killed in the blast at the I. Schumann & Co. foundry on Alexander Road. In addition, 13 others were taken to local hospitals, with "several" suffering burn injuries.

The exact cause of the explosion, which occurred around 2:20 p.m., is not known at this time. However, DiRocco says it "appears" the incident originated from the plant's "very large furnaces" and molten metal ladles.

"It's the largest fire that I've ever had to handle ... and probably the largest one we've had in Oakwood in a very long time," DiRocco told reporters. Aid was requested for 14 outside departments from across Greater Cleveland and Akron, totally roughly 60 additional firefighters.

The deceased victim has been identified as 46-year-old North Ridgeville native Steve Mullins, and sources tell 3News' Lydia Esparra he was a maintenance worker at the plant. Of the injured, DiRocco says all burn victims were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, and the hospital told WKYC yesterday they were treating seven patients with two listed as being in critical condition.

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