PLOVER, Wis. (WSAU) — Fire broke out inside the Del Monte canning plant and Silgan Containers in Plover Tuesday afternoon.
The alarms went off at about 4:15 p.m., and about 75 firefighters from 10 different departments were on the scene until the blaze was put out at about 7:30 p.m.
Plover Fire Chief Mark Deaver says the large response was necessary for several reasons. “We brought in a lot of people because we had a lot of smoke, and it’s a large factory setting, so we needed several firefighters with air packs, and to remain safe.”
The grey and white smoke was seen coming from the roof in the south and west portions of the building. Firefighters were observed on the roof fighting the fire below them.
Assistant Chief Ken Voss told WAOW television the damage appears to be limited to equipment in the factory. “There’s no damage right now that we can tell to the building. There is some damage to some of the duct work, and it remains to be seen as far as the oxidizer, if there’s any damage there.”
The fire started in a furnace, or oxidizer, that was shut down for maintenance. Officials are not certain what triggered the blaze.
The Stevens Point City Times reported many vehicles parked near the building were moved further away from the structure by employees, and that media members were kept away from the property.
