A TimkenSteel worker who was severely burned in an explosion last month has died.

Joseph Ferrall, 34, of Alliance died Friday, his wife Amber Ferrall posted in a message on Facebook.

"It is with a heavy heart that I must tell all of you. That Joseph passed away today surrounded by his family and friends," she wrote. "He fought for 24 days and I could not be more proud of him. He will be missed by many."

Ferrall, who was the father of three boys, had been in critical condition at Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center's Burn Unit since the July 26 explosion at the TimkenSteel Faircrest plant in Perry Township. He and two other workers were injured when a furnace exploded in the plant’s melt shop.

Since the explosion, Ferrall had been sedated and on a ventilator with severely damaged lungs, his wife had said.

Pat Eslich, president at United Steelworkers Golden Lodge Local Union 1123, had told the Canton Repository that the melt shop where the furnace explosion occurred remained closed last week. He also said the cause has yet to be determined and remains under investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

TimkenSteel issued a statement Saturday about Ferrall's death.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and coworkers," the company said. "We are supporting our employees with counseling resources.

"At this time, we are continuing to investigate the cause of the incident."

About a month and a half before the explosion at the Faircrest plant, TimkenSteel was placed in the OSHA's severe violator enforcement program and ordered to pay more than $315,000 in fines following the investigation of a fatal accident at its Gambrinus Steel Mill. OSHA took the action after investigating the Dec. 27 incident that led to the death of a 65-year-old machine operator in the Gambrinus facility.

It was the third time in five years that TimkenSteel has been cited for safety failures by OSHA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Canton-based TimkenSteel, which manufactures carbon and alloy steel products for the automotive, energy and other industries, employs about 1,800 people and had sales of $1.3 billion last year.