Just under a week after the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works explosion, efforts are underway to help its victims and their families financially and spiritually.
United Steelworkers Local 1557 has raised just more than $73,000 out of an $80,000 goal by Saturday afternoon through a GoFundMe drive started by its NextGen co-chair Travis Laing the day after Monday’s fatal accident. Credit unions associated with steelworkers are helping, too.
Two businesses have designed T-shirts and yard signs they will sell with sales proceeds helping, too: Sparkles by Shell in Monongahela is taking pre-orders for items that will go into production on Aug. 25. Inclined Designs has T-shirts down to youth sizes.
An ecumenical prayer service has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Clairton, part of Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish.
The explosion killed two workers and injured 10 others. According to the Tribune-Review, U.S. Steel on Friday pinned blame for the deadly explosion on a valve failure that led to coke oven gas igniting, according to the company’s preliminary findings.
Zack Mainhart, who co-chairs Local 1557’s NextGen committee with Laing, works as a pump house tender at No. 2 Boiler House in Utilities. He was just getting ready to come into work for his 1-to-5 p.m. shift when his co-chair called him about the explosion and its severity.
“I could hear the concern in his voice,” he wrote in an email. “When I got to work, Maple Gate was closed off for traffic so they could let ambulances and firetrucks through easier. There was at least 10 ambulances lined up and ready to transport our injured members to various hospitals. Our first responders really showed up for us that day.”
Laing set the first goal for the GoFundMe effort at $10,000, he said. “We hit that in a couple of hours. Then it went up to $30,000, then $50,000. The goal was never a specific dollar amount. The goal is to raise as much money as possible to help our members and their families who were severely injured or are no longer with us. We can’t even to begin to imagine what they’re going through.
“We will continue to flood social media and use every resource at our disposal to help out these families. No stone will be unturned.”
Mainhart said the fund drive could be extended if the need arises. “We’ll cross that bridge when it comes,” he added.
The Clairton Works Federal Credit Union is accepting cash or check donations at its 600 State St. office or via mail; members also can transfer funds from their accounts. Checks need to be written to Local 1557 Fund. Steel Strong Community Federal Credit Union, which has an office at 1125 Swiss Way, Elizabeth Township, has a Square account to which people can donate, and it has pledged to match 50 cents for every dollar raised, Mainhart said.
He said his union and the community have stepped up and shown tremendous support in the effort.
“USW Local 1219 [Edgar Thomson Works] and USW Local 2227 [Irvin Works] have been a huge support system and are doing everything they can to get the word out as well,” he said. “A united Mon Valley can accomplish anything. When we have such phenomenal people in our corner, I don’t think hitting the current goal is going to be an issue … the goal is to raise enough to be able to help our members’ families. That is our No. 1 focus right now.”
The 31-year-old Freeport native started working at the Clairton plant on March 6, 2017, and now lives in Mount Pleasant. His local appointed him as the NextGen committee chair in August 2022, and the next year he and Laing became co-chairs.
He said his local union is resolved to help the families with anything they need. “We’ll do everything in our power to help them. If they need school supplies, groceries, a shoulder or an ear, 1557 will be there,” he said. “We are in this together. Our members and their families have a tough [road] ahead, but they will not be alone.”
The union also wants to help more of the plant’s 1,300 employees who have been affected by the explosion. “USW Emergency Response Team is here with us,” he said. “They can provide counseling and help with resources to process all of this. The mental toll can be overlooked, so we urge everyone to stop by the Union Hall and take advantage [of that help]. There’re resources for veterans as well. We don’t care if it’s 2 in the morning. If someone needs help, you can call one of us.”
Mainhart declined to give an update on the injured employees’ status, citing concerns for their privacy.
The Allegheny County Health Department deployed Mobile Air Units in the Mon Valley Thursday and Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into the explosion, WPXI reported on Thursday. Health Department officials had told the media that same day that monitors show that all National Ambient Air Quality standards are being met, including those for PM2.5 and sulfur dioxide. An initial call the day of the explosion for residents within a 1-mile area of the plan to remain indoors was lifted late that afternoon.
It’s still making residents and environmental groups uneasy and wary in addition to the concern for victims and their families. The explosion prompted the church to issue a statement on the day of the explosion, ironically St. Clare of Assisi’s Feast Day, that the “unfortunate tragedy of some is felt by all in our community and beyond.”
The Rev. Paul Zywan, Triumph of the Holy Cross pastor, noting the accident “has shaken our community and gripped the attention of our nation,” released a statement on behalf of the clergy and the parish family that day. He wrote on the parish website that “it is difficult to imagine what those who experienced this horrific event, and those that grieve with them, are facing,” and he encouraged all to “remain vigilant in prayer for the injured who are recovering, and for the repose of the souls of the deceased and the consolation of their families.”
Zywan said his parish community also offered prayers and gratitude to the first responders and medical professionals who ministered to all the victims.
Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi said he came to the city council meeting Tuesday to announce Monday’s prayer service.
Zwyan reached out to Elder Melvin Brown, pastor of Gethsemane Church of God in Christ, who contacted the other local pastors and invited them to the prayer service, according to Amy Lamartina, Triumph of the Holy Cross pastoral associate. The service will include prayers, songs, and a reflection from Brown.
“While we offer individual prayers, it is necessary in times such as this to come together to pray as a community,” Zywan wrote on the website. He said the prayer service “will gather all local faith communities. Join us for this time of prayer to be united in purpose under the mantle of God’s love.”
USW Local 1557’s fund drive is available at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-families-of-usw-local-1557-deceased.
Sparkles by Shell T-shirt and yard sign orders can be made at https://clairtonstrong.itemorder.com/shop/home/.
Inclined Designs T-shirt orders are available at https://shopinclined.com/collections/uss-clairton-fundraiser.
Helen is a copy editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but she's currently on strike. Contact her at hfallon@unionprogress.com.