Update: Refinery fire injures firefighter

Update 5:08 p.m.BELLEVUE — A firefighter was treated at a hospital for injuries he sustained after a fire caused an explosion at a soybean processing facility."The call came in at 8:23 a.m. There was a fire at the top of the (grain) elevator," Bellevue Fire Lt. Tony Schaffer said.Bunge North America, a food production company, is in the former location of Central Soya at 605 Goodrich Road. Access roads to the plant were blocked, but black smoke could be seen billowing from the area.The company is an international agribusiness with locations in 40 countries. Its Bellevue refinery is a soybean processing facility. An employee saw the smoke coming from the elevator portion of the facility, where the soybeans are stored before being processed.An employee for Bunge said all of its personnel have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported among its staff.Bellevue fire arrived at the scene and called for mutual aid from Norwalk, Huron River (Monroeville) and Clyde fire departments."After the fire department's arrival there was an explosion," Schaffer said.Schaffer didn't know the exact location of the explosion, but he said it was near the elevator and occurred as they were attempting to extinguish the flames.Groton Township fire was covering calls for Bellevue while they were at the scene, but at about 3 p.m. they were called to fight the fire at Bunge as well, Schaffer said.Attica fire was then brought into cover calls for Bellevue. All five departments are still on scene as of 7 p.m. and have been battling the fire since 8:30 a.m."It's a very large facility and it's pretty complex," Schaffer said. "There's just a lot going on."One firefighter was injured while battling the flames and was transported to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. He has since been released and is recovering at home, Schaffer said.The cause of the fire remains unknown and it's too soon to assess the damage to the facility, according to a Bellevue fire new release. Much of the fire is in the grain legs at the east end of the elevator.Update 3:35 p.m.BELLEVUE — Firefighters remain on scene after a fire caused an explosion in a soybean processing facility."The call came in at 8:23 a.m. There was a fire at the top of the (grain) elevator," Bellevue Fire Lt. Tony Schaffer said.Bunge North America, a food production company, is in the former location of Central Soya at 605 Goodrich Road. Access roads to the plant are blocked but black smoke could be seen billowing from the area. The company is an international agribusiness with locations in 40 countries. Its Bellevue refinery is a soybean processing facility.An employee saw the smoke coming form the elevator portion of the facility, where the soybeans are stored before being processed.Bellevue fire arrived at the scene and called for mutual aid from Norwalk, Huron River and Clyde fire departments. "After the fire department's arrival there was an explosion," Schaffer said.Schaffer didn't know the exact location of the explosion, but he said it was near the elevator. Groton Township fire was covering calls for Bellevue while they were at the scene, but at about 3 p.m. they were called to fight the fire at Bunge as well, Schaffer said.Attica fire was then brought into cover calls for Bellevue. All five departments are still on scene as of 3:30 p.m.One firefighter was injured while battling the flames and was transported to a local hospital. He has since been released and is recovering at home, Schaffer said.An employee for Bunge said all of its personnel have been accounted for.Update 1:25 p.mBELLEVUE — Firefighters responded to a fire at a soybean processing facility which led to an explosion."Call came in at 8:23 a.m. There was a fire at the top of the (grain) elevator," Bellevue Fire Lt. Tony Schaffer said.Bunge North America, a food production company, is in the former location of Central Soya at 605 Goodrich Road. Access roads to the plant are blocked. The company is an international agribusiness with locations in 40 countries. Its Bellevue refinery is a soybean processing facility.An employee saw the smoke coming form the elevator portion of the facility, where the soybeans are stored before being processed.Bellevue fire arrived at the scene and called for mutual aid from Norwalk and Huron River fire departments. Groton Township fire covered calls for Bellevue while they were on scene."After the fire department's arrival there was an explosion," Schaffer said.Schaffer didn't know exact location of the explosion, but he said it was near the elevator. All four departments are still on scene as of 1 p.m.One firefighter was injured while battling the flames and was transported to a local hospital. He has since been released and is recovering at home, Schaffer said.An employee for Bunge said all of its personnel have been accounted for.Update 12:20 p.m.BELLEVUE — Firefighters responded to a fire at a soybean processing facility and are still on the scene."Call came in at 8:23 a.m. There was a fire at the top of the (grain) elevator," Bellevue Fire Lt. Tony Schaffer said.Bunge North America, a food production company, is in the former location of Central Soya at 605 Goodrich Road. Access roads to the plant are blocked. The company is an international agribusiness with locations in 40 countries. Its Bellevue refinery is a soybean processing facility.An employee saw the smoke coming form the elevator portion of the facility, where the soybeans are stored before being processed.Bellevue fire arrived at the scene and called for mutual aid from Norwalk and Huron River fire departments. Groton Township fire covered calls for Bellevue while they were on scene.One firefighter was injured while battling the flames. He was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition, Schaffer said. The departments were still at the scene as 11:30 a.m.An employee for Bunge said all of its personnel have been accounted for and the fire had been put out.Original post 10:30 a.m.BELLEVUE — Firefighters responded to a fire at a corn drying facility and are still on the scene. "Call came in at 8:23 a.m. There was a fire at the top of the (grain) elevator," Bellevue Fire Lt. Tony Schaffer said. "They are still actively fighting the fire."One firefighter was injured. He was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition, Schaffer said. Bunge North America, a food production company, is off Goodrich Road. Access roads to the plant are blocked.Bellevue, Norwalk Huron River Fire departments are on scene. Groton Township Fire is covering calls for the Bellevue Fire Department.* Check back here for updates. Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegister