Shortly thereafter, we had a fire that destroyed the garage. Afterward, that massive steel spring was so annealed and weakened that I was able to straighten it right out -- with only my bare hands -- and that was after it had cooled...
Don't tell me that fire can't weaken steel!
Yes, the heat took the temper out of the steel spring and the metal became malleable again. When I was a kid my grandad had a forge and used it for making and repairing ranch equipment and tools, I loved to sit and watch him shape steel when it was glowing orange on the anvil.