Washington Potato Company lays off 62 workers in Warden after fire
The layoff notice was posted on the Washington State Employment Security Department and effective as of Friday, Feb. 5.
Credit: Charles H. Featherstone
The Washington Potato Co. facility in Warden still smolders the next morning and smoke fills the air after a fire broke out in a potato dehydrator the afternoon of Jan. 21, prompting a response from fire departments across Grant and neighboring Adams counties. Author: Charles H. Feathersone (Columbia Basin Herald) Published: 11:52 AM PST February 9, 2021 Updated: 11:55 AM PST February 9, 2021
WARDEN, Wash. Pasco-based Oregon Potato Company announced Friday it was permanently laying off 62 employees at Warden-based Washington Potato Company, which caught fire in late January, as reported by KREM 2 s news partner the Columbia Basin Herald.
Representative image Powder & Bulk Solids provides a roundup of the biggest food and beverage industry stories that were published this January.
The first month of 2021 was full of exciting and tragic news in the food and beverage industry. Six were fatally injured in a nitrogen leak at a poultry plant and a potato plant was destroyed by a fire. PepsiCo and Post Holdings made big steps into the plant-based meats space last month. We also showcased some of the internet’s best videos of food factory tours. Powder & Bulk Solids editors selected these posts to provide our audience with an overview of some of the most interesting food and beverage-related news that was reported in the last month.
HEADLINES & GLOBAL NEWS
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Jan 22, 2021 06:27 PM EST
A fire at an Eastern Washington potato plant prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders due to ammonia explosion concerns.
An evacuation notice was issued over fears of ammonia explosion
(Photo: Moses Lake Firefighters L1258/Twitter Screenshot)
Washington Potato Factory Battles on Large Fire, Prompts Evacuation Over Fears of Ammonia Explosion Moses Lake Firefighters are currently assisting GCFD4 with a county-wide all call for the #WashingtonPotatoFire While the City of Warden is under Level 3 evacuation, firefighters continue to work on suppression efforts while mitigating an active hazmat situation.
On Thursday night, a potato factory in Washington burnt, resulting in a Level 3 evacuation order due to the ammonia explosion risk. All residents living west Road U-SE and south of Highway 170 in Warden, Washington, received a notice from the Grant County Sheriff s Office before 9 PM PT. The fire threatened people with
HEADLINES & GLOBAL NEWS
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Jan 22, 2021 09:17 PM EST
After residents of a town in the state of Washington were initially advised to flee Thursday night because of the threat of a potential explosion, officials lifted the previous order early Friday.
Grant County Sheriff s Office stated that the local police, alongside the fire agencies, responded to a commercial structure fire at the Washington Potato Company in Warden, Washington.
Based on the statement of the sheriff, there was a risk of ammonia tank explosion.
In a tweet on early Friday morning, the sheriff s office gave the town residents the all-clear signal.
The town of Warden in the state of Washington is around 90 miles southwest of Spokane.
Massive fire destroys potato plant in Grant County; evacuation orders lifted
By Q13 News Staff
Fire destroys large potato plant in Grant County
A massive fire that forced evacuations in the town of Warden Thursday night is under control, but the potato plant is likely a total loss.
WARDEN, Wash. - Evacuation orders have been lifted after a massive fire at a potato plant in Grant County, but firefighters fear the area s major employer is a total loss.
Kyle Foreman with the Grant County Sheriff s Office said the fire started at Washington Potato Company about 5:30 p.m. A few hours later, the county evacuated much of the town of Warden because a large ammonia tank was at risk of exploding.