MOORHEAD - A fire shortly before 2 p.m. today caused minor damage to the American Crystal Sugar Co. plant here.
Assistant Moorhead Fire Chief Jeff Wallin said when firefighters arrived at the scene workers at the plant had largely put out the fire using extinguishers.
Wallin said the fire started on the roof of the plant's pulp drying unit when roofing material surrounding a heat vent ignited.
He said the materials had been in place for many years and over time such materials become more prone to combusting.
Several American Crystal Sugar workers stationed outside the plant as part of a labor lockout said pulp drying is a tricky operation and sending too much or too little material through the dryer can cause fires.
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Wallin said he could draw no connections between the fire and the fact replacement employees are manning the plant.
He said operations at the plant were not affected by the blaze, which he estimated caused about $2,000 worth of damage to the roof.
