Smoke and water damage reported at the Cascades Moulded Pulp plant at Brook, IN after an early-morning fire today (Tuesday). Brook-Iroquois Township Fire and Morocco-Beaver Township firemen answered the call to 3126 E and 500 S just after 1:30 am. Employees discovered a pallet of finished egg cartons on fire.

Brook-Iroquois Fire Chief Kyle Conrad reported the employees notified fire personnel and quickly evacuated the building. Smoke was visible when firemen arrived. Additional engine companies from Rensselaer, Kentland and Goodland were notified.

Conrad reported the fire was located deep into the warehouse of the smoke filled facility and was surrounded by stacks of other pallets of product. That made locating and extinguishing the fire difficult. A sprinkler head almost directly over the fire kept the fire from spreading while firefighters moved pallets to gain access to the fire.

Twelve Brook firefighters were assisted by 20 additional firefighters from the mutual aid departments and were on the scene almost six hours. Also assisting was Newton County EMS and Newton County Sheriff’s Department. All employees were safely evacuated and there were no firefighter injuries reported. No structural damage was evident but there was smoke and water damage.

94.1 WGFA