(Chris Parker, Headline USA) Oregon’s Pendleton Flour Mills just joined a long list of food production facilities that have gone up in flames throughout 2022, reported KOIN News.
The facility is considered a total loss after a fire that was believed to have been extinguished Tuesday was rekindled Wednesday. The flames, fueled by massive storages of dry grains, engulfed the entire building.
While the fire is believed to be under control, local police have still warned the public to avoid the area due to slow-burning grains.
This isn’t the first food production facility to burn down in 2022. In January, a “stubborn” fire caused millions of dollars in damage to a food processing facility in Hamilton Mountain, Ontario.
In February, the Shearer’s Foods facility in Hermiston, Oregon, was completely destroyed by a fire. It led to dozens of injuries and layoffs.
On April 13, a massive fire at a Taylor Farms food processing plant in California also destroyed the facility and prompted local evacuations.
Less than a week later, the headquarters of Azure Standard Food Processing Plant in Oregon was engulfed in flames.
Several other mysterious incidents have also occurred at food processing plants over the past few years.
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The rash of strange fires targeting food plants prompted the FBI to issue warnings of potential attacks against agricultural centers.
“Ransomware actors may be more likely to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvest seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial loss, and negatively impacting the food supply chain,” the FBI alert stated.
The mysterious fires targeting food plants come at a time when supply chain hurdles have led to food shortages and soaring inflation.
Baby formula shortages became especially rampant after a production plant was forced to shut down by the FDA. It has since reopened.
In addition to food plan fires, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to fuel global food shortages. The European Union has already officially begun preparations for such an event.