Fire Forces Evacuation of Animal Feed Plant in Alberta

40 firefighters responded to a blaze inside of the Trouw Nutrition/Shur-Gain animal feed production facility in Olds, AB last Friday, the Town of Olds Fire Department said in a press release Tuesday. 

Crews arrived at the scene to find heavy smoke coming from a process area of the facility and called for mutual aid assistance. Three additional area fire departments reported to the plant to provide support. Workers on site evacuated the plant safely with no injuries.  

“Due to the nature of this type of facility, there was an extreme hazard to firefighters entering this facility due to the potential for dust explosions, and an in-depth size up was completed and the smoke conditions were monitored closely before the decision was made to enter the structure to pursue an active attack on the fire,” Fire Chief Justin Andrew said in the release.

First responders remained at the plant for five hours. Officials said the incident is under investigation and that “the damage estimate will be extensive.” 

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