Evacuations Ordered During Toxic Fertilizer Plant FireEvacuations Ordered During Toxic Fertilizer Plant Fire

June 21, 2018

1 Min Read
Evacuations Ordered During Toxic Fertilizer Plant Fire
The McGregor Company fertilizer plant in Eltopia, WA. Image courtesy of Google Maps

Officials briefly ordered people living and working around the McGregor Company fertilizer plant in Eltopia, WA to evacuate the area on Wednesday after a chemical fire ignited at the facility and generated toxic smoke, several local news organizations reported.

A fire alarm in a storage structure at the McGregor plant at about 6 a.m. prompted the response of fire crews, who arrived to find a 58 tn pile of sulfur-based fertilizer ablaze inside of a warehouse, according to a report by the Tri-City Herald [Kennewick, WA].

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office asked the public in a Facebook post to stay clear of the area surrounding the plant because the smoke from burning fertilizer could cause respiratory issues. Some 40 people were impacted, the Herald said.

McGregor provides seeds, equipment, crop inputs, and consulting services to agribusiness customers in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

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