Sheldon, Iowa — A feed pellet machine and an exhaust system at a feed mill in Sheldon were damaged in a fire on Wednesday night in Sheldon.
Sheldon Fire Chief Brad Hindt reports that the page went out about 8:00 p.m. to Kent Nutrition in the southwest part of town. It was said that a pellet cooler fire was in the feed mill area of the plant.
When firefighters got there, they found the building filled with moderate smoke, hot embers, and heavy smoke exiting the outside exhaust pipe. He says the employees were knocking down the fire inside the pellet machine with fire extinguishers as well as the sprinkler system.
He says firefighters made entry into the building and found the pellet machine on the second floor and attacked the fire inside the machine with water and foam. Firefighters worked on the fire in the exhaust systems as well.
Hindt says that at that time, the Sanborn Fire Department was called for manpower due to the fact this was going to be a slow process.
He says firefighters and Kent employees continued to take apart the pellet machine and exhaust system and removed the burnt feed pellets from the cooling bin.
He says the damage was confined to the one pellet machine, the exhaust system, and several pallets of paper.
According to Hindt, the cause of the fire is undetermined.
He says 29 firefighters responded to the fire and used about 3000 gallons of water and 30 gallons of foam and were on the scene for three and a half hours.
Assisting the Sheldon and Sanborn firefighters were the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team, the Sheldon Police Department and Kent employees.
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Original story posted Dec 7, 2022 at 9:57 p.m.:
Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon firefighters have been called to what is described as a fire in a dryer at Kent Nutrition Wednesday evening.
The department was called to Kent Nutrition’s facility, which is located on RMT Avenue in extreme southwest Sheldon at about 8:00 pm Wednesday.
Sometime later, the Sanborn Fire Department was summoned for mutual aid, and SCAT responded to the scene, as well.
We’ll bring you further information as it becomes available.
