[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Fire Damages Quaker Oats Facility

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Battalion Chief John Metz
Duty PIO Pager 573-441-6608 (For Active Emergency Incidents - Leave detailed message 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.)
Office 573-874-7644 (M-F, 8-5)


Fire Damages Quaker Oats Facility 

COLUMBIA, MO (December 3, 2014) - At 6:25 a.m. Wednesday, December 03, 2014 the Columbia Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at 4501 Paris Road, PepsiCo’s Quaker Oats facility. Several employees called 9-1-1 to report a fire in a production machine.

Columbia Firefighters arrived on the scene at 6:32 a.m. to find smoke coming from the south end of the 110,000 square foot commercial building. Building occupants told arriving firefighters that they believed the fire was extinguished. Firefighters determined that employees discovered a small fire in a rice cake processing machine, called 9-1-1, and attempted to extinguish the fire with handheld fire extinguishers. Realizing the fire was progressing beyond the capabilities of their extinguishers, the remaining employees evacuated the building. Shortly thereafter, the building’s automatic sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire.  “PepsiCo’s emergency response procedures worked very well. They simultaneously called 9-1-1, evacuated other occupants, used handheld extinguishers while the fire was small and recognized when it was time to get out” said Battalion Chief John Metz. “This is also a great example of how fast, effective, and efficient automatic sp
 
 rinkler systems are. Residential as well as commercial buildings can benefit from the protection they provide. Without the sprinkler system, today’s fire would have been devastating” Metz said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A damage estimate is not available and will have to be determined after maintenance and insurance personnel assess the damage.  The business remained closed for approximately two hours while firefighters removed smoke from building. One employee was evaluated at the scene for possible smoke inhalation and a minor burn but declined further medical attention.  Three fire engines, a ladder truck, and a rescue squad responded to the incident. 



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