Date: June 21, 2018
Location: Brooks, Alberta (Canada)
Address: 507 Sutherland Drive E, T1R 0H3
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Grain
Industry: Grain Processing (Agricultural)
Equipment: Processing Plant
Company: C B Constantini Ltd
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: $8 to $10 million
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, C B Constantini Ltd was established in 1980 and is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. It disputes both traditional and organic animal feed and human consumption produces like cereals, barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Storage plants are located in Lethbridge, Broxburn, and Brooks, Alberta for easy access and product distribution.
Description of Grain Dust Fire:
On June 26 2018 the Brooks Bulletin reported a structural fire at a food processing facility in Brooks, Alberta. According to the company owner, the fire is believed to have started when lightning struck a wooden structure at the tallest point of the building. No one was in the plant at the time, as the night shift had not yet started.
The Deputy Fire Chief stated that by the time fire crews reached the scene at 10:45 p.m., flames were already coming through the roof of the building. Although a lighting strike started the fire, the firefighters stated that flammable grain and grain products within the pant made stopping the fire very difficult.
Firefighters managed to rescue a couple of cats and remove some wheeled equipment from the burning structure before the fire was finally extinguished at 7:30 a.m. The volunteer department returned at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. later that day to deal with flare-ups.
There were no injuries, but the fire caused between $8 and $10 million in property damage.
Sources:
Brooks Bulletin
