Shafer impressed with explosion response
By Terry Murry on Monday, March 7th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – First responders from throughout the area rushed to Shearer’s Foods LLC to respond to an explosion on March 1 at the potato chip plant outside Hermiston. Umatilla County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Shafer said company officials also rushed to the scene.
“They brought corporate folks from all over the country,” Shafer said. “They were coming from Arkansas, North Dakota, and Washington. You name it. They came from all points and they came right away.”
Shafer said that the city of Hermiston was one of the first to offer any help. Even though the plant is outside city limits, it’s important as a large employer.
“Currently they have about 250 employees, but they can balloon up to 425 easily,” he said. “They’re a big contributor to our economy. They’re really important to us.”
There were no fatalities in the explosion and fire that was caused by portable natural gas boiler. The building in which it occurred was totally destroyed.
MYCB photo
