Fire Destroys Much of Wabash Valley Produce Plant Outside Farina

Fire gutted much of the Wabash Valley Produce plant outside Farina Wednesday night. The fire was finally put out early this morning.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

There is no word yet on what caused the fire. The plant was closed for the day when the fire broke out about 7pm. One worker said there are five production buildings at the plant, and four were ablaze. 

Firefighters from 27 companies assisted at the scene. Some of the Wabash Valley tanker trucks were pressed into use to haul water to the rural scene, which is just south of Farina along Illinois Route 37, then east across the CN tracks. The Wabash Valley facility located in Farina was not involved.

Fire companies from Fayette, Effingham, Clay and Marion counties were all present. Here is the list: Farina, Kinmundy-Alma, Salem, Effingham, St. Elmo, Brownstown, Vandalia, Edgewood Bi-County, Iuka, Xenia, Patoka, Sandoval, Odin, Kell, Centralia, North Clay, Dieterich, Harter-Stanford at Flora, Orchardville, Montrose, Hoffman, Woodlawn, Teutopolis, Altamont, Flora, St. Peter, Shumway, Beecher City Tri-County, and Watson. The Louisville, Jefferson and Beckemeyer departments provided change of quarters coverage. Marion County and Fayette County sheriff's deputies, Illinois State Police, and Marion County ESDA provided traffic control. 

This is a photo of the pillar of cloud caused by the fire. The cloud could be seen from Effingham to the north and from Salem to the south.

Illinois Route 37 at the scene was finally reopened at 3:50am.