Massive fire destroys building at Clarissa’s Pro Ag
by Trinity Gruenberg
A massive fire of unknown origin destroyed the shop and chemical storage building at Clarissa Pro Ag on Wednesday, July 31.
A resident noticed the blaze at 4:31 a.m. and called it in. The Todd County Sheriff’s Office and the Clarissa, Browerville, and Long Prairie fire departments responded to the chemical fire.
The 40x120 foot sheet metal building contained the company’s shop. Their old reliable International tractor, skid loader, and four-wheeler were inside, as well as chemicals ranging from oil to pesticides.
Manager Jim Hlatky was notified of the fire and rushed to the co-op.
“That’s not what you want to see or the phone call you want to get,” said Hlatky.
They used heavy equipment to dig trenches around the site to collect the runoff and help prevent contamination.
Most of the heat came from the tires and barrels of hydraulic oil as they burned.
Due to the chemicals in the facility, the MPCA and the Department of Agriculture had to be contacted, and the co-op hired an environmental consultant to help with containment measures....
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