Ductwork fire damages Redmond wood pellet plant

An extensive fire in exterior ductwork caused about $4,000 damage to a Redmond wood pellet plant early Friday morning, officials said.

Redmond Fire and Rescue responded at 5:23 a.m. to the reported fire at Pacific Pellet, located at 601 East Antler, said Fire Marshal Traci Cooper.

Arriving crews found fire coming from the steam stack and several joints in the exterior ductwork, Cooper said.

With help from Pacific Pellet staff, crews dismantled key portions of the ductwork, so crews could pour water on and douse the blaze, she said.

No injuries were reported, Cooper said, adding that two fire engines and eight personnel responded.

Cooper said such fires happen sometimes at such facilities, as dry, fine wood is processed for the pellets “and every once in a while they end up with a hot particle that ignites the wood materials.”