At 10 a.m. on Monday, South Zanesville Fire Chief Russell Taylor met with engineers at the Owens-Illinois glass plant on State Street to discuss the possibility of a tank rupture.
A few hours later, the bottom of a tank ruptured.
"Basically like a volcano," Taylor said.
Three hundred thousand tons of molten glass spilled into the facility, he said. The molten glass wrapped itself around structural beams, causing deep concern that the glass would melt the beams and the building would collapse. Taylor added that those who live closeby are not in any danger.
Every fire department in the county was called to the scene, and Taylor said they would probably be there until midnight, trying to keep the glass cool enough that it doesn't destroy the beams.