California Fire Fighters Extinguish Fire at Honey Processing Plant

August 19, 2010 – Fire investigators are working to determine what caused the blaze that destroyed a 10,000-square-foot honey processing plant in San Diego County, California. Dozens of CAL FIRE fire fighters and members of CDF Local 2881 responded quickly after the initial call came in, but the facility was already fully involved when fire fighters arrived at the Chaparral Honey plant.

“As fire fighters began advancing attack lines, a large explosion occurred, causing some structural damage,” says Local 2881 fire fighter Nick Schuler. “Fortunately, no one was hurt."

The fire was further complicated by the fact that hundreds of bees are housed at the plant. Therefore, it became clear that fire fighters had to take extra precautions to keep everyone safe and to extinguish the fire. Fire fighters worked hard for six hours before the last of the hot spots were doused.

No one was at the plant when the fire began.