Date: July 25, 2021
Location: Memphis, Tennessee (USA)
Address: 2168 Frisco Avenue, 38114
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Dried Rice
Industry: Breakfast Foods (Food Processing)
Equipment: Rice Dryer
Company: Kellogg’s
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Three Injured
Capital Cost: $1,000,000 USD
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Kellogg’s is an international cereal and snack foods company headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan. It started in 1898 by producing corn flakes, Granola, and Caramel Cereal Coffee and later expanding its product line to include different types of cereals, cookies, crackers, and toaster pastries. Kellogg’s products are manufactured and marketed in over 180 countries.
Incident Description:
On July 25, 2021, Local 24 reported a three-alarm fire at a breakfast foods producer in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Memphis Fire Department responded at 4:05 p.m. Upon arriving on the scene, firefighters discovered fire visible in the interior of a large commercial building and immediately began rescue and firefighting operations. A total of 63 pieces of Fire/Rescue/EMS equipment as well as around 170 emergency personnel responded to the call.
Firefighters brought the fire under control at 9:10 p.m. Three firefighters suffered heat exhaustion; two were treated on the scene and released, while the other was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
Fire, smoke, and water caused damage to the structure and equipment. It was an accidental fire that began when a conveyor belt malfunctioned and ignited combustibles within a rice dryer machine.
No employee injuries were reported.
Research Team Update:
After receiving the fire department report, it was discovered that three fire crew members sustained injuries. This report also estimated a capital cost of $1 million.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up one OSHA inspection for this location, but it was not flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
Local 24
Memphis Fire Department Report Incident #21-0112244
