By Michael Gonzalez, Post-Tribune correspondent
GARY -- U.S. Steel Gary Works' No. 14 blast furnace, the largest one in North America, could be back up and operational in days, instead of months, as originally estimated, a union official said Monday.
Jerry Littles, president of United Steel Workers Local 1014, said company officials are targeting this Friday to start the process of firing up the furnace.
"I feel great about it," Littles said, adding the furnace's shut down could have idled from 230 to 250 employees.
A company spokeswoman declined comment on bringing the furnace back on line.
The furnace was taken off line eight days ago after a 3-foot-wide hole developed in its hearth. The No. 14 makes more iron than the mill's other three blast furnaces combined, Littles said. It's also the mill's newest unit.
Last Wednesday, the No. 8 blast furnace had to be shut down. A crust of iron by-products coated the runner, or trough, and tap hole of the unit, causing molten iron to fill the furnace. A manager opened a weep hole, or release valve, on the furnace, causing molten iron to spill out and start a fire on the cast floor below.
The No. 8 was restarted within a few days and should be making good iron by Wednesday, Littles said.
Initial projections had repairs on the furnace lasting for months, not days. It takes time for a furnace to cool down and for workers to conduct a thorough inspection, Littles said.
Weather could complicate the start-up, causing delays, Littles said.
"It all depends on the rain, too," he said. "Everything's been speculation, but this is good news for our workers."