Production has resumed inside Emporia’s Hostess facility after fire damaged some manufacturing equipment and vents and led to minor injuries for one Emporia firefighter.
Fire developed in the donut fryer area near the north wall shortly after 7:30 am. A few minutes later, the fire had worked from the ground floor up a roughly 20-foot wall and through the roof.
Hostess Vice President for Human Resources Matt Hall tells KVOE News the plant was evacuated smoothly and there is apparently superficial damage in the donut fryer area. Production is currently offline for donuts, but other parts of the plant resumed production shortly after the fire was contained.
Hall expects most of the donut cooking lines could be up and running by the middle of the week after cleanup and an ongoing investigation into what happened. He says those cooking lines were down for sanitation and clean-down when the fire started.
It took about 90 minutes to get the fire totally contained. Hall credited a combination of ongoing employee training, firefighter response and law enforcement response for the situation resolving as quickly as it did.
One Emporia firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Newman Regional Health for observation. That crew member’s name is not being released. No employees were injured.
Emporia Fire continues its investigation into the fire at this time.
11 am Saturday: Hostess fire damages fryers, nearby vents; one firefighter suffers minor injuries
A damage estimate is pending after fire broke out inside Emporia’s Hostess production facility Saturday morning.
Fire developed shortly after 7:30 am, and Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage says firefighters had to go to the roof to attack the flames.
Steinlage confirmed initial reports the fire started in the donut fryer section near the north wall of the facility, although the exact cause is under investigation. The fire started on the ground floor but worked up a roughly 20-foot wall and broke through the roof. Firefighters also had to spend a significant amount of time checking for fire extension after the blaze got into several nearby vents.
It took less than 90 minutes for firefighters to get the situation under control.
The building was evacuated. Initially, no injuries were reported. However, one Emporia firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Newman Regional Health for observation. That crew member’s name is not being released. Fire crews from Allen-Admire, Hartford-Neosho Rapids and Olpe helped at the scene.
Currently, there is no official word on whether production has resumed or how significant the cleanup will be inside the plant. KVOE News has reached out to local plant management and corporate media relations for updates.
The Emporia facility is Hostess Brands’ main production plant for items like Twinkies. It also makes Coffee Cakes, Cup Cakes, Dunkies, Gem Donettes, M&M Brownies, and Snoballs. At last word, the Emporia location employs close to 600 people.
We’ll keep you updated with further developments on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
9:05 am Saturday: Hostess fire apparently developed in fryer area; no injuries reported
Fire crews from several Lyon County departments remain on the scene after a blaze developed at Emporia’s Hostess production facility Saturday morning.
The fire at 1525 Industrial developed shortly after 7:30 am, according to Emporia Fire Chief Jack Taylor.
The fire worked its way from the fryer area up a wall on the north side of the facility and through the roof. Fire crews from Allen-Admire, Americus and Olpe were called to assist.
The building was evacuated and no injuries have been reported. Further details are pending.
The Emporia facility is Hostess Brands’ main production plant for items like Twinkies. It also makes Donettes and other snack cakes. At last word, the Emporia location employs close to 600 people.
We’ll keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
8 am Saturday: Fire develops at Emporia’s Hostess production facility
Fire has broken out at Emporia’s Hostess facility, 1525 Industrial.
Flames were visible from the roof at the north end of the production facility around 7:45 am. Emporia Fire crews from Headquarters and Station 2 are currently on the scene along with Emporia Police.
There is currently no word on a cause or origination point. Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for updates.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
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