Firefighters tackle Bunge fire
The Red Oak Fire Department, as well as multiple other agencies battled an early morning fire in Red Oak Oct. 23.
At 5:15 a.m. the Red Oak Fire Department, Elliott Fire Department, and Stanton Fire Department were dispatched to 2049 Fernwood Ave., the Bunge Corporation for a report of fire inside the building extending into the east cyclone tower system.
Initial radio reports indicated that there was fire inside a processing tube inside the building with heavy smoke coming from the north side of the building. This activated additional mutual aid from the Villisca Fire Department as well as the Shenandoah Fire Department for their aerial truck.
Interior fire crews made a quick knock down of the interior fire, while the Red Oak aerial began exterior suppression operations of the east cyclone tower.
Minimal damage to the processing plant and cyclone system was reported. There were no injuries to Bunge staff or any firefighters.
Fire-ground operations were terminated at 7:02 a.m. with the plant being turned over to maintenance/management personnel without incident. The plant was operational later that morning.
The Red Oak Fire Department expressed its appreciation to Bunge maintenance personnel for all their assistance, and in addition to the above agencies, also received assistance at the scene from the Red Oak Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Communications, and the Red Oak Water Department.