OLDS, Alta. – A spectacular fire that destroyed Transfeeders Co., a hay compressing company on the Olds College campus, is being investigated by provincial fire inspectors.
Fire broke out around 2 a.m. June 9, destroying loose hay, containers full of densified hay bales ready for shipment, offices and equipment. The loss is estimated at about $2 million.
A company employee on the site said it’s not known how much hay was destroyed. Olds RCMP said officers have done some early investigation but cause of the fire is unknown.
Company owner Blair Wright was in Taiwan on business at the time.
Transfeeders Co. is the largest exporter in Canada of double compressed forages. It ships more than 60,000 tonnes annually of compressed timothy hay to the Japanese cattle feed market and to Saudi Arabia.
About 100 people worked at the plant, which has been operating since 1985. A second plant is located in the Peace River region and a third recently opened at Cremona, Alta.
