Wildfires Damage Washington Fruit Businesses
June 29, 2015 More than 1,000 people have been forced to evacuate as a fast-moving wildfire swept into Wenatchee, WA, on Sunday night and Monday, June 28-29, burning more than 3,000 acres, destroying nearly 30 homes, and severely damaging businesses including a number of fruit industry operations according to reports from the Wenatchee World.
Grower/packer Blue Bird Inc., orchard product supplier Northwest Wholesale, and produce packaging and equipment manufacturer and distributor Michelsen Packaging Company, are all reported to have sustained significant damage. A report from KOMO News describes the Blue Bird and Northwest Wholesale facilities as “gutted.”
The fire appears to have started in brush near the town. Officials were reportedly unsure of the cause of the blaze as of Monday afternoon, but conditions were prime for trouble following multiple days of temperatures well above 100°F and high winds.
There have been no reports of serious injury. GrowingProduce.com will update this story as more details become available.
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