A look at Louis Dreyfus Co. outside Claypool on Wednesday, Feb. 16. A fire started in the baghouse at the plant on Tuesday evening, Feb. 15. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

CLAYPOOL — Fire departments from three counties responded to a fire at Louis Dreyfus Co. at Claypool on Tuesday night, Feb. 15.

Claypool Fire Department Chief Rick Hurley said the fire was called out around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. It was in the baghouse of the plant, which is a five-story building on the southeast side of the property.

The baghouse is where “dry beans go in and are conveyed to other buildings,” said Hurley, describing it as a “large dusty area.”

Hurley said there were “flames at the beginning,” but when firefighters then made the roof, the fire had calmed down.

He said the fire was declared under control at 8:30 p.m., with a lot of that time being investigation because crews “didn’t know how far the embers traveled down through the floor.”

Claypool was assisted at the scene by Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Winona Lake and Silver Lake fire departments, Henry Township Fire Department from Fulton County and Pleasant Township Fire Department from Wabash County.

Claypool Police Department also responded to the scene and Burket and Sidney fire departments were on standby for some of the departments, said Hurley.

Hurley noted the large response was due to not knowing the scope of the fire.

“It looked and sounded a lot worse than what it was,” he said.

He added Louis Dreyfus management was quick to help and that no firefighters or employees were injured.

The cause of the fire was still “undetermined” as of Wednesday morning, Hurley said. He also wasn’t aware of the dollar amount of the damage.

Louis Dreyfus issued a statement to InkFreeNews saying they are continuing to investigate the incident.