THE YAKIMA VALLEY TOWN OF GRANDVIEW, WASHINGTON, took a major economic hit Tuesday when their largest employer was destroyed in a fire.

Herald-Republic / Courtney photo

Wild River Foods is a plant that processes potatoes into french fries and employees about 150 people working 3 shifts.  Around 9 am the fire broke out at an electric panel and spread quickly through the building.  Not helping matters any were two large vats of peanut oil that is used in the processing.

The plant is a total loss and will cause a serious hardship on the small town’s economy.  Not just the lost wages for all the locals who worked there, but the firm contributed about 10% of the utility tax revenue for the town government.  Already they are looking for some immediate cutbacks in order to compensate for the looming shortfall.

Wild River was preparing to build a second facility nearby that would put an additional 200 people to work.

The Yakima Herald-Republic has the full STORY.

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