Report on massive fire at Echo Lake Foods released

CITY OF BURLINGTON (WITI) -- The City of Burlington Fire Inspector released Thursday, March 7th a 17-page report on the massive fire that destroyed Echo Lake Foods January 30th, 2013.

In the report, officials say factors contributing to the ignition of the fire, which broke out in a mechanical room, are undetermined. However, authorities have ruled out foul play and label the cause of the fire accidental.

"Through interviews and an investigation of the area of origin, criminal intent was ruled out," the City of Burlington Fire Inspector said.

The massive fire at Echo Lake Foods broke out around 6 p.m. January 30th in a mechanical room of the factory and prompted assistance from 88 agencies throughout southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Wisconsin Emergency Management was also called to the scene to assist with resources.

The State Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team from Racine was also called to the scene to monitor air quality because the plant utilized ammonia. Officials say there was some minor release of ammonia  from residue product in the pipe lines. In the report, officials say that was the only release of ammonia -- claiming the tanks on the property never had a release of any kind.

Several product tanks on the property sustained heavy heat and smoke damage. It is unknown how much product was lost. Authorities say the Nitrogen tanks in the Delta Sector did not sustain heat damage due to their distance from the building.

According to the report, the plant had working smoke detectors and an automatic extinguisher system. However, the automatic extinguisher system failed to operate. The report indicates that the system failed because the fire broke out in an area that was not protected by the extinguisher.

It is estimated that the fire caused $40 million in damage to the property and required 3.5 million gallons of water from the city of Burlington's Municipal Water System and 1.5 million gallons of water from Echo Lake.


Since the fire was ruled undetermined, the Fire Marshal's Office says the fire cannot be proven at an acceptable level of certainty. The office is expected to release more information in the next two to three weeks.

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