On February 21, 2023, a local metal factory had a terrifying explosion in the Cleveland area, leaving more than a dozen people injured, two of them being critically injured. The incident struck the small town of Oakwood Village.

Emergency crews were called to the factory, I. Schumann & Co., almost immediately. Oakwood Village Fire Department further released information that 46-year-old Steven Mullins has passed away in the tragic incident. Fox News, published by Louis Casiano and Julia Musto, provides that he was employed by the company for nearly 30 years. “There is no immediately available information regarding a cause for this accident. We expect it will take time before we know more,” I. Schumann said in a statement Tuesday, as reported by CNN. Officials believe the source was most likely in the building’s foundry, which is where they cast the metal. Thankfully, Fox News informs us the event did not seem to be a criminal attack, and just happened to be a freak incident. Videos on social media spread, showing vehicles being stuck after being hit by debris, and smoke traveling miles from the source. CNN’s Sarah Smart and Jillian Skyes also pitch in to provide more detail about the situation, saying it took 2 hours to officially put the fire out, 3 p.m to 5 p.m. 

Many fire departments that were rural to Oakwood Village were sent out to the scene. The incident not only heavily affected the people working in the building, but it also drew the attention of people around it, like Stephenie Davis. Davis says she was at her job when the entire building began to shake violently. Looking out the window, she was shocked to see a “huge cloud of black smoke” coming from a building nearly 1,000 feet away. 

The people of Oakwood open their hearts to those who died or were involved in this incident. No recent updates were put on the victims, but they are still hospitalized until further notice.