Firefighters Battle Plant Blaze After Cedar Rapids Explosion
Terror, sadness, worry. Explosions are bad, fires are bad. Quaker Oats is a staple of this town so, we don’t want them to blow up,
local resident Dan Gardner told KCRG after witnessing thick smoke pour over downtown Cedar Rapids.
An apparent explosion sparked a fire Saturday afternoon at the massive Quaker Oats milling facility in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, sending thick black smoke billowing over the city, Fox Business reported. Firefighters responded to the plant at approximately 4:44 p.m. local time after receiving reports of an explosion and flames on the north side of the building, according to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. Additional crews from Marion, Hiawatha, and Linn County were called in to assist as heavy smoke restricted traffic and caused a backup along Interstate 380 for more than an hour.
Plant Workers Accounted For As Mayor Cites Fortunate Timing
All workers inside the facility at the time of the incident were safely accounted for, and no injuries were reported among employees or responding firefighters, according to Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell. In a video update posted to Facebook, O’Donnell noted that the fire broke out in a rear product-handling area of the plant where relatively few staff members were working. It’s not heavily populated with employees and team members. Which, of course, in this case was a blessing,
O’Donnell said.
The facility stands as the largest milling plant in the world, processing more than 2 million pounds of oats daily, according to the company’s website. The complex employs between 740 and 1000 workers. Both local hospitals prepared emergency support in case casualties were brought in, though those medical resources ultimately were not required.
Ongoing Investigation Into Cause And Extent Of Damage
Most of the flames had been extinguished by 6:25 p.m., though emergency crews remained inside the structure to tackle remaining hot spots and handle interior overhaul operations, according to the fire department. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the explosion or calculated the full extent of the structural damage. PepsiCo Foods US, which owns Quaker Oats, released a statement confirming that an investigation into the origin of the fire is underway.