Blaze Destroys Warehouse, 25,000 Tons Of Spuds

Fire investigators were probing the cause of a blaze at a food-processing plant that destroyed a metal warehouse and 25,000 tons of potatoes stored inside.

No one was hurt in Saturday’s blaze at Twin Cities Foods Inc., which makes french fries. The fire quickly spread throughout the 105,000-square-foot building, and smoke was visible for miles.

No one was inside the building when the fire was reported at 2:20 p.m., plant manager Cliff McGhan said. No other buildings at the plant were damaged.

Officials were looking into whether the blaze might have been sparked by a contract welding crew that had been working near the warehouse, fire chief Doug Merritt said. The crew broke for lunch shortly before the fire was reported, McGhan said.

At least 30 firefighters from neigh boring fire districts assisted Prosser firefighters.