Date: February 1, 2018
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin (USA)
Address: 16592 US Hwy 63, 54843
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Sawdust
Industry: Pellet Manufacturing (Wood Products)
Equipment: Baghouse
Company: Great Lakes Renewable Energy, Inc.
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
The company website states that Great Lakes Renewable Energy, Inc. manufactures wood pellet products using pure, virgin tree stock from northwestern Wisconsin as source material. The company commenced operations in October 2008 and produces a wide range of products from heating pellets to premium animal bedding and mushroom growing media.
Description of Dust Fire:
On February 1, 2018, the news agency APG-WI reported a structural fire outside Hayward, Wisconsin. The City of Hayward Fire Chief said that the fire started in the pellet plant baghouse, where dry sawdust is pulled from the conveyor belt. After all the filter socks were ablaze, the flames extended into the inside of the building and the ductwork.
A news video by the Sawyer County Record reported that when firefighters were alerted at 1:45 p.m., they were advised that it was not an emergency situation. They finally got the blaze under control at 7:14 p.m. There were no injuries and no damage to the inside of the plant was reported.
