Smoky fire evacuates ‘packing peanut’ plant

Published 2:42 pm Monday, August 31, 2015

A smoky fire at a “packing peanut” plant in Kent caused the evacuation of the building early Monday afternoon, the Kent Fire Department reported.

The fire, at the plant located in the 20400 block of 87 Avenue South, was confined to the mechanical equipment used in the manufacture and packaging of “packing peanuts.”

Kent firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. The fire department’s ventilation fans pushed out the smoke from the building.

The smoky fire caused approximately $30,000 in damages to the manufacturing equipment only.

There were no reports of injuries to employees of the business or firefighters,