Port Colborne firefighters respond to JBL corn dryer fire

Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services spent about an hour fighting a fire at the former Ingredion Canada plant, now part of Jungbunzlauer Canada, on Saturday.

Firefighters were called out just before 10: 30 a. m. for the report of a fire inside a dryer in the facility on Invertose Drive.

Fire Chief Tom Cartwright said the fire was inside a large corn dryer.

“I heard one of their guys talking to one of our firefighters, and he said when he opened the door to the dryer a big column of flame came out.”

Cartwright said the employee shut the door to the dryer and when firefighters were on scene, he said, they found a little bit of fire coming out of the machine.

“We pulled a two- inch line and put some water on the fire … we used a minimal amount.”

The chief said firefighters didn’t want to damage the dryer and its various mechanical, electrical and electronic components with too much water.

He said some employees in the immediate area of the fire were evacuated, and added they assisted firefighters by shutting down machinery and power.

“Everyone was safe.” Cartwright wasn’t sure how much damage the machine sustained as a result of the fire. He said the company would have to take it apart first and check on it.