Looking Back: The 1978 Fostoria, Ohio Fusey Flare Plant Explosion Fire

Key Points

• The 1978 Fostoria, Ohio Fusey Flare Plant Explosion Fire occurred on June 11, 1978, injuring over 20 people.
• It seems likely that the explosion started in the plant’s mixing room, with the cause undetermined.
• No images or videos of the event are available online, as it predates digital media.

Event Overview

On June 11, 1978, an explosion at the Standard Railway Fuse Corporation plant in Fostoria, Ohio (also known as the Fusey Flare Plant) caused significant damage and injured more than 20 people. The blast, which originated in the “Fusee mixing room” where flammable chemicals were mixed, led to fires spreading to nearby buildings and debris being hurled up to 12 blocks away. The exact cause remains undetermined, and the fires were eventually controlled by late morning.

Availability of Media

Research suggests that no images or videos of this event are readily available online, likely due to the era predating widespread digital media. Local archives, such as the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library or the Ohio History Connection, may hold physical records, but these are not accessible digitally.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of the 1978 Fostoria, Ohio Fusey Flare Plant Explosion Fire

This report provides a comprehensive examination of the 1978 Fostoria, Ohio Fusey Flare Plant Explosion Fire, addressing all available information, including efforts to locate images and videos. The analysis is based on extensive research using contemporary news sources, historical archives, and digital databases, conducted as of 12:00 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Background and Event Details

The explosion occurred on June 11, 1978, at the Standard Railway Fuse Corporation plant in Fostoria, Ohio, located in the 44830 zip code. The facility, also referred to as the “Fusey Flare Plant,” was involved in producing railroad flares, which are used for signaling and burn brightly. The incident was significant enough to be covered by national and regional newspapers, indicating its impact on the community.

According to reports from The New York Times, the explosion ripped through the plant, causing fires at nearby buildings and hurling burning debris up to 12 blocks away. More than 20 people were injured, with most treated and released from Fostoria City Hospital, and one person admitted for observation. The fires were under control by late morning, but the cause of the explosion was listed as undetermined.

Further details from The Indianapolis Star suggest the explosion originated from an exhaust fan in the “Fusee mixing room,” where highly flammable chemicals were being mixed. A workman discovered the fire upon returning to the area, highlighting the rapid escalation of the incident.

Impact and Context

The event had a notable impact on the local area, with debris affecting a wide radius and fires spreading beyond the plant. The injury count, exceeding 20, underscores the severity, though no fatalities were reported in the available sources. The plant’s role in producing railroad flares, which involve combustible materials, likely contributed to the explosion’s intensity.

Given the era, safety regulations and industrial practices may have differed from today, but specific changes post-event were not detailed in the sources. The lack of a determined cause suggests challenges in investigating such incidents at the time, possibly due to limited technology or resources.

Search for Images and Videos

A significant part of the research focused on locating images and videos of the event, as requested. However, no such media were found online. This is likely due to the event occurring before the widespread adoption of digital media and the internet. Contemporary news articles, such as those from The New York Times and The Indianapolis Star, were text-based and did not include embedded images or videos.

Efforts to find visual media included searching platforms like X, YouTube, and web searches for terms like “1978 Fostoria Ohio explosion video” and “images.” These searches returned no relevant results, with most hits being unrelated modern incidents or council meeting videos from the City of Fostoria’s website

Local resources were also explored, including the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library in Fostoria

Neither had readily accessible online archives for the event, though physical archives may exist. For instance, the library offers digital resources, but no specific mention of the 1978 explosion was found in browsed sections. Similarly, the Ohio History Connection, which manages over 50 historical sites, did not yield relevant digital content in searched sections.

Given the time period, it is possible that photographs or newsreels exist in physical archives, such as those held by local newspapers like The Fostoria Daily Times (noted in the Library of Congress records, The Fostoria Daily Times (Fostoria, Ohio) 19??-19??), or historical societies. However, accessing these would require in-person visits or specific requests, which are beyond the scope of online research.

Additional Investigations

Further searches explored related avenues, such as books on Ohio industrial accidents and OSHA historical reports. For example, a search for “books on Ohio industrial accidents” revealed titles like Industrial Accidents: May 15, 1915 to May 15, 1916 by the Ohio Industrial Commission

provided access to accident data, but records from 1978 were not readily available online, likely due to the age and format of historical data.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The 1978 Fostoria, Ohio Fusey Flare Plant Explosion Fire was a significant industrial incident, injuring over 20 people and causing widespread damage. Detailed reports from The New York Times and The Indianapolis Star provide a clear picture of the event, but no images or videos are available online. The lack of digital media is attributed to the era, and physical archives may hold additional materials. For further exploration, contacting local institutions like the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library or the Ohio History Connection is recommended, as they may have historical photographs or documents not digitized.

This analysis ensures a comprehensive response, covering all aspects of the query while acknowledging the limitations in accessing visual media from nearly five decades ago.

Key Citations

• 20 in Ohio Hurt in Flare Explosion Published 1978
• Flare Plant Fire Hits 12 Blocks The Indianapolis Star
• Home Kaubisch Public Library
• Home – Ohio History Connection
• Video City of Fostoria
• The Fostoria Daily Times (Fostoria, Ohio) 19??-19??
• Industrial Accidents: May 15, 1915 to May 15, 1916; Actuarial Department, Accident Statistics Division
• Investigation Summaries Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Fostoria, Ohio News Room – The Fostoria Free Press