By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A plant worker at Grede Fabricating in Columbiana sustained a minor injury during an incident on the afternoon of Feb. 5.

The Columbiana Fire Department responded to a report of an explosion at Grede Fabricating, located on Industrial Parkway between Joinertown Road and Shelby County 70, at 12:46 p.m., Assistant Chief Jerry Lamb said.

“They have furnaces in the building, and as near as we can tell, there was some moisture in the kiln – the mold they pour the molten metal into,” Lamb said. “We believe that is what caused the effect of the explosion.”

The injured worker was transported to UAB for treatment by South Shelby Rescue, which assisted the Columbiana Fire Department with the call.

As a precaution, the company closed for the remainder of the day following the incident, and motorists were urged to avoid the affected area by taking alternate routes, according to a Shelby County Sheriff’s Office press release.

Columbiana Middle School was not affected, and school was not dismissed, the release read.

All emergency personnel were back in-service at about 1:18 p.m., Lamb said.

Shelby County Emergency Management Agency is conducting a follow-up investigation on the incident with the company, he said.

“We’re very thankful that there was no fire,” Lamb said. “There was a little bit of smoke to start with, but it was very short-lived.”