[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/...cda576481c.html

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/...cda576481c.html

Firefighters from five departments in Porter County put out a fire Tuesday at the ArcelorMittal steel mill in Burns Harbor.

The fire took place in a coal bunker that services the coke battery operation at the mill. No one was injured. The impact of the damage is expected to be minor, ArcelorMittal spokeswoman Mary Beth Holdford said.

ArcelorMittal's in-house fire department called for assistance from other agencies about 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Porter Fire Chief Lewis Craig Sr. said. The steelmaker put out a second alarm asking for even more firefighters shortly after.

Firefighters from Porter, Chesterton, Burns Harbor and Washington Township helped extinguish the fire. The departments left the scene about two hours after they were first called out.

ArcelorMittal's fire department at Industrial Station 53 typically only calls in outside help when a fire is too big for its crew to handle alone, Craig said.

The steelmaker is evaluating the damage and the potential impact on its coke battery operations, which is anticipated to be minor, Holdford said.

The Burns Habor mill, which employs more than 3,700 workers and is one of ArcelorMittal's largest fully integrated steelmaking facilities in the United States, will continue its operations making hot rolled, cold rolled and steel plate products.

All scheduled employees should still report to work, Holdford said.