BINGEN, Wash. (AP) — Huge flames consumed part of a fruit processing plant in the Columbia Gorge community of Bingen, Washington.
KING-TV reports the fire started at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Underwood Fruit and Warehouse Company plant. It caused power outages in Bingen.
The packing warehouse continued to burn into the afternoon in Bingen, across the river from Hood River, Oregon.
The fire also affected morning school bus routes.
According to its website, Underwood Fruit and Warehouse packs and ships for 55 area growers. The company was formed in 1917 by seven local growers.
CEO Don Gibson says three pear warehouses appeared to be destroyed. An apple warehouse was spared.
He said no one was in the buildings where fire broke out. The company employs about 270 workers at the site.
