Central Montana Times

Great Falls Fire Rescue Feed Mill Fire 2.27.23

GREAT FALLS FIRE RESCUE INCIDENT INFORMATION RELEASE:

Engine 1, Engine 3, Engine 4, Tower 2 and Battalion 1 responded to a reported working fire at 921 15th St N, for a fire reported in the basement area where a grinding unit operates within a feed mill.

Battalion-1 arrived in 3min 20 seconds and found no visible smoke coming from the exterior of the facility. Upon conferring with the plant manager, the fire had started in product in the grinder area. He stated the screens plugged up and created enough heat from the grinding process that the pea product began to smolder and smoke. Engine-1 crew made entry and found a small amount of product smoldering. They shut down the vent fan and locked the grinder system out. They cleared the area of left over product to the exterior.

Tower 2 set up on the C-side and went to the 9th floor to check the bin designated for the product. The bin was empty and no indication of heated product made it to the bin.

Engine-1 and Truck-2 crews remained on the scene and vacuumed the remaining product out of the grinder area. It was determined through investigation that no hot product made its way up the pipe to the bin.

Upon investigating cause and origin of the fire, it was determined to be from plugged screens that did not allow for proper heat dissipation.

Original source can be found here.