Firefighters from four counties battled a fire in a silo at the Vita Line pet food processing plant in Hazle Township, PA for more than 24 hours Tuesday and Wednesday.
Firefighters had been battling the blaze since Tuesday night when the silo exploded Wednesday afternoon. No injuries were reported but nearly two dozen firefighters received medical attention as a result of the explosion.
Reports indicate that equipment inside the plant originally caught fire but that two more fires subsequently occurred. The exact cause of the fire was not known, but a dust explosion did occur in the silo.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was called to the scene to assist.
The pet food had to be removed from the silo, hosed down, and disposed.
Part of the American Nutrition Co., the 267,000-sq-ft Vita Line facility is located in the Humboldt Industrial Park and manufactures dog and cat food.
For related articles, news, and equipment reviews, visit our Explosion Protection & Safety Equipment Zone
