Date: July 18, 2018
Location: Northfield, Minnesota (USA)
Address: 701 5th Street West, 55057
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Cereal Production (Food Processing)
Equipment: Grain Equipment
Company: Post Consumer Brands
Previous Incidents: None Reported
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Post Consumer Brands was founded in 1895 as the Postum Cereals company in Battle Creek, Michigan. Its first cereal, Grape-Nuts, was developed in 1897 and proved so popular that the company expanded and acquired other food brands such as Jell-O gelatin, Baker’s Chocolate, Maxwell House coffee, and the General Foods Company. In 1989 General Foods merged Kraft Foods, which had been acquired in 1987, to form the Kraft General Foods division (later renamed Kraft Foods). Ten years later, Kraft announced it would spin off Post Cereals and merge that business with Ralcorp Holdings to become Post Foods, LLC. In 2015, Post Foods acquired MOM Brands (formerly Malt-O-Meal Co.) to create Post Consumer Brands, presently the third largest breakfast cereal company in the US.
Description of Grain Dust Fire:
On July 18, 2018, the Northfield News reported a fire at a breakfast cereal facility in Northfield, Minnesota. According to the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service Chief, the fire started around a piece of equipment that puffs grain, which involves high heat and has caused fires in the past.
By the time fire crews arrived around 7:30 a.m., maintenance workers at the plant had already extinguished most of the flames. Firefighters used heat detection guns to search for any hot spots, but didn’t find anything.
Part of nearby Hwy. 19 in Northfield was closed briefly but reopened around 8:00 a.m. There were no injuries and the value of any property damage is unknown.
Sources:
Northfield News
