Preliminary reason of fire at ArcelorMittal Temirtau announced

The fire in one of the production departments of ArcelorMittal Temirtau in Karaganda oblast that claimed 3 lives could have been caused by hot ore getting into the conveyer, fire-fighting service of the oblast's Emergency Situations Department told Tengrinews.kz. The preliminary reason of the fire is agglomerate (ore) getting on to the conveyer belt without being properly cooled. Agglomerate’s high temperature caused the belt to catch fire. Then the fire jumped on to the electric cables, to the conveyers gallery and to the transfer unit. The state commission was formed by the fire-fighting service to investigate into the accident. The fire-fighter injured in the accident died in intensive care. “Watch commander of the fire-fighting department No.14 Roman Balabashin died at 09:40 a.m. today. Doctors were fighting for his health for three days. Unfortunately, Roman Balabashin’s injuries were fatal,” the Department stated. Earlier Tengrinews.kz English reported that two people were killed and one injured in the fire in one of the production departments of ArcelorMittal Temirtau (metallurgic plant) located in Karaganda oblast on May 15, 2012. The criminal case was initiated against officials of ArcelorMittal Temirtau for violation of fire safety rules causing death and grievous consequences.