Boiler explosion sparks fire at Hermiston-area potato chip plant; 7 injured

HERMISTON, Ore. (AP) — A boiler explosion at a potato chip plant south of Hermiston sparked a dramatic fire Tuesday afternoon.

The Tri-City Herald reports Umatilla County Fire District 1 and the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office were called to the Shearer’s Foods plant just before 1 p.m. after employees called 911 to report an explosion.

Good Shepherd Medical Center reported that seven people came to the hospital from Shearer’s Foods. None of the injuries were reported as serious.

The plant supplies much of the Western U.S. with potato and corn chips.

When it’s operating at full capacity, the plant employs up to 400 people, said Hermiston City Manager Byron Smith.