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WEIRTON -- Officials with Ergon Inc. are continuing to look into a cause for a fire at its Ergon-West Virginia facility, located south of Newell, over the weekend, while also working to restart operations for much of the plant.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, which occurred late Saturday following reports of multiple explosions at the refinery along state Route 2.
"The fire was in the Unifiner process, which is one of the units involved in making gasoline," explained Doug Burdick, Ergon vice president - refining, in a statement released Tuesday evening. "We are currently taking deliberate steps to ensure a safe restart of all areas of the plant except the Unifiner."
Burdick explained the company's primary concern is the safety of its employees, as well as neighboring residents and businesses.
"An investigation team with both Ergon and independent representatives has been assembled," Burdick said. "We are taking this process slowly and being very methodical. We want a safe startup and will always consider safety over production."
During the fire Saturday, traffic along Route 2 was shut down in the area, with only emergency vehicles allowed.
In addition to the company's fire brigade, units from Hancock and Brooke counties in West Virginia, Beaver County in Pennsylvania, Jefferson and Columbiana counties in Ohio, as well as the Pittsburgh International Airport responded.
"We are so appreciative of efforts of all who responded to the fire at Ergon - West Virginia Saturday night and thankful we can report there were no injuries," Burdick said. "In addition to the Ergon employees who helped fight the fire, I would like to thank all the fire departments that came to our assistance and those that were on standby. Also responding were the Office of Emergency Management, the Hancock County 911 Communications Center, Weirton Salvation Army and many members of local law enforcement and ambulance companies. All of us at Ergon are incredibly thankful to be part of this community and we appreciate your outpouring of support."
Additional information will be released through the company's website.
Saturday's blaze was the second in as many months at the plant. On April 7, seven fire departments responded after an unoccupied maintenance shop caught fire.