Plume of smoke seen coming from plant (Updated with Algoma response)

An unusual plume of orange-brown smoke was seen coming from the area of the steel plant Friday afternoon, readers of SooToday report.

"The steel plant is belching out some thick brown smoke close to the Bayview neighbourhood, pics attached," noted reader James Pyette, who sent his images of the smoke to the SooToday newsroom as did other readers.

We have reached out to Algoma Steel for more information. Check back with SooToday.

Here is the response from Algoma Steel's Brenda Stenta:

We took the blast furnace temporarily off blast earlier today due to a downstream operating issue. 

As a result, we have had to periodically beach surplus molten iron. 

While the beaching of metal is a normal operating procedure, it does generate a visible emission when the iron meets the pit.

The Ministry of Environment has been notified.