Fire damages Wash. hops processing plant

Yakima Herald-Republic

MOXEE — A hop kiln and drying room in Moxee were severely damaged Saturday afternoon in a fire that quickly spread before workers at the plant could stop it, East Valley firefighters said.

Crews were able to protect the picking and drying sheds on the property at 5605 Beauchene Road, but a house across the street from the kiln sustained minor fire damage, said Battalion Chief Rick Woodall of the East Valley Fire Department.

The fire was reported about noon; firefighters remained at the scene for several hours after containing the blaze.

Woodall said the Yakima County fire marshal and a private insurance company would investigate the cause of the fire.

Hop fires sometimes ignite in the oil-laden plant bales, but equipment malfunctions also can start fires at such plants.

The kiln blows air into a building where the hops are stored on screens above the floor in order to dry the plants.

About 50 firefighters from East Valley and several Upper Valley fire departments responded to the incident.

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