FULTON, Mo. - An oil buildup in a heat exchanger at Backer's Potato Chips caught fire Tuesday, damaging the plant and putting it out of operation for the rest of the week.
Bill Metz, Backer's plant manager, said the plant at 1 Industrial Drive has two heat exchanges that pair with two cookers for the potato chips. The heat exchanges, he said, are about the size of a firetruck and filter oil.
He said an employee immediately noticed the fire and called 911 about 4:15 p.m.
In four minutes, the Fulton Fire Department was on the scene with three pumper firetrucks and one ladder firetruck. Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Coffelt said the building was "smoke-filled" when firefighters entered it.
Firefighters originally believed the fire possibly reached the roof, Coffelt said, and a firetruck crane lifted two firefighters onto the roof to assess it for any signs of fire extension. The fire did not reach the roof, and black smoke was traveling through the ventilation system.
Metz said about 10 employees were inside the building "cleaning up" when the fire broke out. Backer's has about 100 employees, who were not at work due to the snowstorm. He said the plant could be out of operation for the rest of the week.