A fire at a dog food plant in Ogden on Thursday afternoon caused an estimated $3 million in damage, fire officials said Friday.
Ogden Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Hess said firefighters traveling in the area noticed unusual smoke from an exhaust stack at Alphia, a pet food manufacturing facility at 2813 Wall Avenue, around 3 p.m.
When crews were escorted into the building to investigate, they discovered an active fire inside a biscuit-baking oven on the second floor.
“The smoke was being carried through the oven’s ducting, which delayed detection,” the fire department said in a statement.
Firefighters initiated an evacuation of the plant, which spans an entire city block. “The concealed fire extended within the oven and connected ductwork and involved product that had migrated to a storage silo, complicating access and suppression. Interior teams operated in zero visibility and faced significant ventilation challenges in the oven room,” the statement said.
Firefighters controlled the blaze in 4.5 hours, securing the fire stop by 8:30 p.m. Investigators are working with Alphia to determine the cause.
The factory experienced a similar incident earlier this year, according to Hess.
Contributing: Debbie Worthen