Posted on Aug 21, 2022
Fire at a Pendleton Flour Mill is the latest blow to Northwest wheat growers
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In mid-August, a massive fire swept through a 100-year-old flour mill in Pendleton. The Pendleton Fire Department evacuated the mill without incident, but officials say the building is a total loss. That’s halted production at the Grain Craft Pendleton Flour Mill, a central piece of the regional economy.
The fire comes in the middle of the wheat harvest season in Eastern Oregon and is the latest blow to an industry that has been plagued by drought and wildfires in recent years. But this year’s late spring brought wetter weather later in the year, improving growing conditions so much that it could be one of the best seasons yet.
Ben Maney, a wheat grower in the area and also the president of the Oregon Wheat Growers League, spoke with OPB’s All Things Considered host Crystal Ligori about the impact the fire has on the Pendleton community and where the wheat industry is heading.
The fire comes in the middle of the wheat harvest season in Eastern Oregon and is the latest blow to an industry that has been plagued by drought and wildfires in recent years. But this year’s late spring brought wetter weather later in the year, improving growing conditions so much that it could be one of the best seasons yet.
Ben Maney, a wheat grower in the area and also the president of the Oregon Wheat Growers League, spoke with OPB’s All Things Considered host Crystal Ligori about the impact the fire has on the Pendleton community and where the wheat industry is heading.
Fire at a Pendleton Flour Mill is the latest blow to Northwest wheat growers
Posted from opb.org
Farming
Agriculture
Pendleton
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good morning Brother William, solid read and share, keep them coming.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Tennessee-based Grain Craft, which owns the mill, says it’s working with farmers to handle wheat supply
The Grain Craft flour mill in Pendleton was destroyed in a fire that erupted Wednesday morning.
As of 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning, firefighters from Pendleton Fire and Ambulance were still on the scene of the fire and several blocks near the mill were closed to through traffic, according to Facebook updates from the Pendleton Police Department.
A press release issued by the city Thursday says firefighters “are going to have more long days ahead of them before this incident is over” due to “the size of the building, the material inside, and the lack of safe access.”
The East Oregonian reports that the building burst into flames at about 4:30 a.m., though at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday firefighters responded to a plume of white smoke at the mill."...
..."Tennessee-based Grain Craft, which owns the mill, says it’s working with farmers to handle wheat supply
The Grain Craft flour mill in Pendleton was destroyed in a fire that erupted Wednesday morning.
As of 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning, firefighters from Pendleton Fire and Ambulance were still on the scene of the fire and several blocks near the mill were closed to through traffic, according to Facebook updates from the Pendleton Police Department.
A press release issued by the city Thursday says firefighters “are going to have more long days ahead of them before this incident is over” due to “the size of the building, the material inside, and the lack of safe access.”
The East Oregonian reports that the building burst into flames at about 4:30 a.m., though at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday firefighters responded to a plume of white smoke at the mill."...
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