The Storm Lake Fire Department responded early yesterday morning to an equipment fire at Platinum Crush in rural Alta.
Crews were dispatched around 4:39 a.m. and requested mutual aid from the Alta Fire Department while en route. Firefighters arrived to find smoke on the first three floors of the facility. They remained on scene for roughly three hours, extinguishing the fire and checking for any spread within the building.
According to investigators, the fire started when foreign debris entered an air separator feeder, creating friction that ignited accumulated bean material. The fire was contained to the industrial equipment involved and did not extend to the structure.
No injuries were reported.
The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office and Buena Vista Regional Medical Center EMS also responded.
