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Underwood Fruit Fire Ammonia Release

 
Site Contact:
Richard Franklin
On-Scene Coordinator

(franklin.richard@epa.gov)

Site Location:
6550 Washington State Highway 14
Bingen, WA 98605
 response.epa.gov/Underwoodammmonia

On Wednesday 18, 2017, EPA was notified of a large fire and anhydrous ammonia release at the Underwood Fruit & Warehouse processing facility in Bingen, Washington. The apple and pear fruit processing building at the plant caught fire at approximately 5:00 AM due to unknown causes, resulting in a large fire, smoke plume, and release of anhydrous ammonia. The anhydrous ammonia was used as a refrigerant coolant at the facility.

EPA mobilized and OSC and START contractor resources to the site to assess the incident and conduct air monitoring.


Underwood Fruit Processing Fire Firefighters spraying water on burning fruit processing building Firefighting and water spray at burning fruit processing building rear of fruit processing building on fire; extensive damage from fire, ammonia tanks (left side of photo next to red brick structure) Back side of fruit processing building, on fire debris, and anhydrous ammonia tanks which have auto-refrigerated Fire and extensive fire damage at rear of fruit processing building Firefighters attacking fire in rear of fruit processing building Anhydrous ammonia piping at fruit processing building Washington Department of Ecology responder testing fire runoff water Washington Department of Ecology responder testing fire runoff water Continuing fire in evening at Underwood fruit Processing building View of rear of fruit processing building, BNSF railway line and proximity to building, and Washington Department of Ecology testing fire water runoff