An explosion and fire at the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, sent thick black smoke over the city on Saturday, with all workers accounted for and no injuries reported.
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department said crews were called to the factory at about 4.44pm local time on 24 October after reports of an apparent explosion. Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the northern side of the building.
Teams from Marion, Hiawatha and Linn County joined the response. The blaze was brought under control at about 6.25pm, officials said.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said the workers had escaped safely and had all been accounted for. The fire was in an area used to handle products, which was not heavily staffed at the time.
“It’s not heavily populated with employees and team members. Which of course in this case was a blessing,” Ms O’Donnell said in a video message posted on Facebook.
PepsiCo Foods US, which owns the Quaker Oats brand, said emergency responders had attended the scene and that the cause of the incident would be investigated.
The Cedar Rapids facility is described by the company as the world’s largest milling plant, processing more than 2 million pounds (about 900,000kg) of oats each day.
Officials have not yet identified what caused the explosion and fire.
