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EVRAZ Pueblo Steel Mill Fire

 
Site Contact:
Eric Sandusky
On-Scene Coordinator

(sandusky.eric@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Pueblo, CO 81003
 response.epa.gov/EVRAZPuebloSteelMillFire

On April 5, 2024   a fire broke out at the EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel Mill and billowing plumes of dark smoke were visible throughout Pueblo, CO. the Colorado Highway Patrol (CSP), Pueblo Fire Department and Pueblo Police Department arrived on site to contain the fire at the Rocky Mountain Steel Mill and requested EPA assistance.

EPA Region 8 deployed a Federal On-Scene Coordinator and a support contractor to the incident. EPA staff arrived on Site late on April 5, 2024 to provide support to the local first responders, conduct air monitoring, conduct additional assessments, and help stakeholder coordination. EPA OSC conducted air monitoring of the smoke plume in surrounding neighborhoods and is working with the local fire department to prevent firefighting water runoff from reaching the storm water system.

The Rocky Mountain Steel Mill is one of the largest steel plants in Region 8, owned and operated by EVRAZ North America, and the mill itself contains numerous hazardous substances including magnesium, a flammable metal. However, first responders determined that there were no hazardous substances involved in the fire. 

Out of an abundance of caution, EPA continued to conduct air monitoring in the surrounding area. EPA provided the local health department with the monitoring data. 


Overview of burning structure from the staging area on the northwest side of the burn site. View of the burn site from the staging area on the northwest side of the burn site the morning of April 6, 2024. Fire barely visible and mostly diminished. View of START calibration and equipment staging area at the staging area on the northwest side of the burning structure. Overview of staging area in facility on the northwest side of the burn site. Bessemer Ditch on north side of Wire Mill. START conducting mobile air monitoring with DustTrak for particulate matter in residential areas. View of mobile air monitoring location AA-14 with DustTrak. Staging area located on the northwest side of the affected structure. View of EVRAZ fire department located at the staging area on the northwest side of the burn area. View of mobile air monitoring location AA-01 with DustTrak. Wire mill structure has visible damage on the east side of the wire mill. Fire-damaged structures along eastern side of the wire mill. Fire-damaged structures on east side of the inactive wire mill. These structures were empty or used for non-hazmat storage. Eastern boundary of wire mill along access road. Access road is east of fire-affected area and aligns with Bessemer Ditch on western side. Concrete retaining wall and berm are present on eastern side of access road to prevent runoff into Bessemer ditch. Concrete retaining wall and berm on the eastern side of the wire mill access road. Bessemer Ditch is pictured just beyond them. Engineering controls aim to prevent runoff from the wire mill fire-affected from entering ditch. View of Bessemer Ditch on east side of wire mill area. Concrete retaining wall and berm on the eastern side of the wire mill access road. Bessemer Ditch is pictured just beyond them. Engineering controls aim to prevent runoff from the wire mill fire-affected from entering ditch. Concrete retaining wall and berm between the eastern wire mill boundary and Bessemer Ditch. Burned structures visible in the wire mill area, along with smoke from active firefighting measures further north and west in the wire mill. Drums containing calcium carbide being temporarily stored on the northeastern corner of the wire mill area. Drums were restaged due to fires in adjacent structures prior to EPA arriving to the Site. Drums are intact and have no visible fire damage. Northeastern portion of access road on eastern boundary of wire mill with Bessemer Ditch parallel to the east. No berm or retaining walls are present between the wire mill and ditch in this area. No visual evidence of firefighting runoff water discharging Northeastern wire mill area where calcium carbide drums were relocated. Bessemer Ditch is parallel to the east side of the access road. No berm or retaining walls are present between the wire mill and ditch in this area. No visual evidence of firefighting Bessemer Ditch at the northeastern corner of the wire mill area. Temporary storage area for calcium carbide drums visible in the background. Northern side of the wire mill area with multiple burned structures. Smoke from active firefighting measures visible around stack. Bessemer Ditch in the foreground along northern boundary of the wire mill area. Pooled water in the southern section of the wire mill area due to runoff from firefighting water and an open hydrant. Pooled water in the southern section of the wire mill area due to firefighting efforts and runoff from an open hydrant. Pooled water in the southern section of the wire mill area due to firefighting efforts and runoff from an open hydrant.