Belfast

2022 - 3 - 24

Community rallies around employees of destroyed French fry factory ... (WGME)

BELFAST (WGME) – Crews are still on the scene of a massive fire in Belfast that destroyed a French fry factory. Also read:Multiple crews battle fire at ...

And that’s the most important thing." "There were a lot of tears in their eyes," Herbig said. So we were really hustling to make sure that we got those grocery gift cards into their paychecks just to get them through the weekend." "To have a processing plant like this go up in flames all of a sudden," Mills said. Dana has talked to every one of them," Penobscot McCrum CEO Jay McCrum said. “The potato plant’s gone."

Crews battle fire at potato processing plant in Belfast (WAGM)

The staff was able to evacuate the building and there were no injuries. At this time it is believed the fire was started by one of the large fryolator machines.

The staff was able to evacuate the building and there were no injuries. Local fire crews were still fighting the fire as of Thursday afternoon after having difficulty due to the metal siding/roofing. Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office interviewed staff Thursday and are expected to return Friday to process the scene. Belfast, Maine (WAGM) - A potato processing plant in Belfast caught fire in the early morning hours of Thursday. According to Public Information Officer Shannon Moss of the Maine Department of Public Safety, On Thursday, March 24, 2022, at about 3:29 a.m. the Fire Marshal’s Office was called to a large commercial fire at the Penobscot McCrum potato processing plant at 28 Pierce St. in Belfast. The building was in operation at the time with approximately eight employees on staff.

Massive blaze engulfs potato processing plant in Belfast, Maine (The Boston Globe)

Fire officials were called to the Penobscot McCrum plant on Pierce Street at around 2:30 a.m. for a report of a structure fire, said Erin Herbig, the city ...

I am grateful that no one has been hurt and urge people in the area to follow the advice of local authorities to stay safe. Moss said investigators interviewed staff today and are slated to return to process the scene Friday. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and assist emergency first responders, the company, its workers, and the community. “This family enterprise is five generations strong with a singular focus of providing the finest frozen potato specialty products on the market today,” the description said. Penobscot McCrum plants, grows, and processes Maine potatoes to be sold as frozen products, according to the company’s website. The nearby Route 1 bridge was closed temporarily but reopened at around 9:15 a.m., she said.

Blaze destroys Belfast potato processor plant (Bangor Daily News)

An early morning fire swept through the Penobscot McCrum processing plant in Belfast, destroying the facility. Officials said that the call came a little ...

Gov. Janet Mills visited Belfast Thursday afternoon, after the fire was largely quelled, to meet with Penobscot McCrum owner Jay McCrum, his family members, Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig and others. “We want to help them rebuild as soon as possible,” she said Thursday afternoon, telling McCrum his company has always made a good product. Officials from CMP and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection are also at the fire scene. In 2019, the office building was destroyed. An excavator was also brought in to knock down part of the building. “At this time it is believed the fire was started by one of the large fryolator machines. The company later expanded operations beyond Belfast. “These people mean a lot to me, so. “We’re going to figure this out,” he told her. Troy Howard Middle School was used as an evacuation center for the residents of Harbor Hill Nursing Home, located just across the Passagassawakeag River from the fire. Mills said that when she learned of the fire she was shocked, and wanted to do something to help. McCrum said he was able to get the Belfast fire chief a floor plan of the building, so that the firefighters would be better informed about the locations of the ammonia tanks and other substances.

Governor Mills Surveys McCrum Fire Damage; Pledges to Help ... (maine.gov)

Governor Janet Mills this afternoon visited Belfast where she surveyed damage to the Penobscot McCrum potato processing facility following a major fire this ...

I have directed my Administration, including the Maine Departments of Labor and Economic and Community Development, to assist however we can as we look to recover from this tragic event.” The Governor was joined by Jay McCrum, CEO of Penobscot McCrum, and Belfast City Manager Erin Herbig, whom she also met with to understand the City’s needs moving forward. Belfast, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills this afternoon visited Belfast where she surveyed damage to the Penobscot McCrum potato processing facility following a major fire this morning.

Fire at Belfast potato processing factory prompts evacuations, school ... (pressherald.com)

The blaze, believed to have started in a large deep-frying machine, gutted the Penobscot McCrum building and left 138 people out of work.

Heavy smoke from the fire forced the evacuation of a nearby high school and the Harbor Hill Center nursing home. The McCrum family represents five generations of Maine potato farmers dating to the northern Maine town of Mars Hill in 1886. “We are very thankful that at this time all employees are safe and were not injured,” the post said. “At this time, we are trying to support our employees as this is a challenging time for all of us.” Regional School Unit 71 announced early Thursday that Belfast Area High School students were sent home because of smoke from the fire. Jay McCrum, the company’s CEO, told the Courier-Gazette at the scene that he believes the fire started in the fry room. The staff was able to evacuate safely and there were no injuries, Moss said. The fire is believed to have been started by one of the facility’s large deep-frying machines, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in an email. The building was in operation at the time the fire started with approximately eight employees on site. The governor pledged to help the city, company and its employees as they recover. Affected workers also may reach out to the CareerCenter for assistance, at 207-623-7981. “Today is a difficult day, especially for the more than 130 employees who work hard here day in and day out, but I am so thankful that no one was hurt, and my administration will do all we can to support this iconic company, its employees, and the community moving forward.