ID released of victim in plant blast

Published 3:05 pm Friday, April 1, 2011

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) – Fire officials have released the name of the person who died in an explosion and blast at the AK Steel Corp. coke plant in Ashland.

Fire Chief Scott Penick told WVHU-AM in Huntington, W.V., that the victim of Thursday’s blast was 61-year-old Forest B. Milton of Cabell County, W.V.

The station cites an AK Steel statement saying Finley was employed by a maintenance contractor.

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The blast occurred in the plant’s byproducts area. It is being investigated by the state fire marshal’s office and the plant.

State Fire Marshal Bill Swope said the investigation is expected to wrap up early next week.

AK Steel is based in West Chester, Ohio.