Fire strikes three food facilities

By Jenni Spinner

- Last updated on GMT

Fires have hit three facilities in the past three days, causing anywhere from minimal damage, to millions.
Fires have hit three facilities in the past three days, causing anywhere from minimal damage, to millions.
Processing and packaging facilities in three different states have been hit by fires; crews are still assessing damages, estimated at more than $2.5m.

No injuries have been reported in any of the events in Indiana, Kentucky, or New York. However, the incidents have caused deadly downtime at each plant.

Peanut plant

Algood Food, a Louisville, Kentucky, plant specializing in peanut butter and other nutty foods, called in a blaze on Sunday night. According to authorities, the fire likely started inside peanut roasting equipment; smoke apparently was carried throughout the plant’s ventilation system.

First responders had the fire under control and extinguished within 45 minutes. No injuries were reported; however, production has been halted, and staffers are assessing the damages.

Corn facility

Fischers Food Grade, which processes corn in Indiana, caught fire early Saturday morning. While the Algood Food facility fire was quickly managed and damage limited, the Fischers Food Grade was less fortunate.  

Firefighters from four local departments responded to the early-morning blaze, taking nearly five hours to bring the fire under control. The company reports no one was hurt, but damages to the building and processing equipment are $2.5m.

Packaging producer

On Monday morning, emergency crews were called to Genpak International, a food packaging facility in New York. Responders ordered evacuation of the facility, due to concerns of a hazmat situation.

Multiple fire departments were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which reportedly has caused heavy amounts of smoke to permeate the air in the area around the Genpak facility. No injuries have been reported; the cause of the fire and extent of damages are not yet known.

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