Peanut Butter Factory Blaze Prompts 50-Firefighter Response

At least 55 firefighters responded to a fire at the Hampton Farms peanut butter factory in Franklin, VA on Saturday afternoon.

The fire was determined to have started in the roaster of the peanut butter facility, which was shut down as employees were evacuated, reported local news 3 WTKR.

"It's organic material. It was peanuts that were being cooked in a metal oven. No outside materials, no extra additives, so no hazmat," explained Captain Tim Dunn, public information officer for the Franklin Fire Department.

The blaze was not immediately extinguished as the building remained extremely smoky even after the roaster was shut down. Twelve outside fire departments were called to help extinguish the fire and prevent its spread.

A plant manager told News 3 about 30 workers were inside at the time, though there were no injuries.

Damages are still being assessed by plant personnel, and the cause of the fire is being investigated still.

Hampton Farms, which has been in business for nearly 100 years, also has peanut roasting facilities in Severn and Edenton, NC; Springfield, MA; Portales, NM; and Lubbock, TX.