OFF PAGE ONE
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022
Fire
Continued from A1
“It’s not going any-
where,” he said. “At this
point, we’re just trying
to get to some of the stuff
that’s producing the darker,
nastier smoke and put it
out.”
He said he was looking
forward to being able to
leave the site and go home
at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the state fi re
marshal and police were
investigating the cause of
the explosion, Davis said,
and interviews were taking
place that day.
After fi refi ghters cleared
enough of the site to make
it safe, investigators would
be able to enter the grounds,
he stated.
“That’s where it’s at,”
Davis said. “I think we still
have a good idea that it was
a boiler explosion.”
He also expressed relief
that people escaped the fi re
with few injuries. He cred-
ited Shearer’s for a suc-
cessful evacuation, as well
as a full account of person-
nel. Because Shearer’s was
able to account for their
workers, fi refi ghters did not
have to search the fi re for
victims.
“That took a huge weight
off our shoulders,” he said.
Erick Peterson/Hermiston Herald
Shearer’s Foods tanks stood unharmed a day after the Shearer’s Foods explosion of Feb. 22, 2022. Firefi ghters said they were
concerned fi re would spread to the tanks, which they said contained fl ammable substances.
She stated Shearer’s
230 employees from the
Hermiston plant site were
accounted for and safe.
“We do intend to take
care of our Shearer’s fam-
ily,” she stated, adding
“senior leaders are present
Hermiston supporting
Shearer’s assesses next steps in
our teammates and gain-
Shearer’s Foods com- ing an understanding of the
mented on the fi re
impact of the fi re
with an email and a
and planning our
press release.
next steps.”
“Currently, we do
“We are com-
not have a thorough
mitted to provid-
understanding of the
ing assistance for all
extent of damages
impacted employees
to our facility or the
and will do every-
Morgan
impact on our busi-
thing we can to limit
ness. As a result, we
the impact of the
are still determining the full fi re on our team members
package of support for our and the local community,”
teammates,” Joline Man- Shearer’s stated Feb. 23 in
ning, Shearer’s Foods chief a press release. “We would
human resources offi cer, like to thank the emergency
stated in an email. “Their responders and our local
wellbeing is important to team for their eff orts.”
us; we have created a cen-
tralized location for our Government commits to help
Government officials
employees to gather and
gain access to resources. To voiced their sympathy
assist them in processing for the situation and their
this event we have estab- opinions on what this will
lished (Employee Assis- mean for those affected.
Hermiston
Assistant
tance Programs) services
City Manager Mark Mor-
immediately.”
Erick Peterson/Hermiston Herald
Another excavator arrives Feb. 24, 2022, at Shearer’s Foods, Hermiston.
gan said the city has been
in touch with Shearer’s
corporate leadership.
“They’re still assessing
what they think they’ve
got here — what’s salvage-
able and how they can pro-
ceed,” he said. “They’re
a good business that has
a need for keeping things
in operation, so I think
they’ll be doing everything
they can to have things up
and running as fast as they
possibly can.”
Morgan added the city
will find what it can do
and expressed confidence
that other levels of govern-
ment — county, state and
federal — will be part of
this effort, too.
“It’s a primary job cre-
ator in the sense, without
them, there are other dom-
inoes,” he said.
The 230 employees at
Shearer’s in Hermiston,
then, are not the only peo-
ple affected. Also, there
are potato suppliers, plant-
ers, harvesters, truckers
and marketers who are
hurt.
“There are the people
inside the plant, but this
has a ripple effect,” Mor-
gan said.
In addition to speaking
with Shearer’s corporate
employees, Morgan said
city officials have been in
touch with county com-
missioners, state congress-
men and Oregon U.S. Sen.
Ron Wyden. All these gov-
ernment officials, he said,
expressed their support
for returning Shearer’s to
shape.
Umatilla County Com-
missioner John Shafer in an
email to EO Media Group
stated Shearer’s is a large
employer in the region and
an important business in
Umatilla
County.
“Shear-
er’s Foods
is a vital
part
of
Umatilla
Shafer
County,” he
said. “We
are working with the city
of Hermiston, Shearer’s
Foods, federal officials
and many community
partners to do everything
we can to make sure the
workers are taken care of.
… We want to do every-
thing in our power to
make sure that Shearer’s
and their employees are
back working as soon as
possible.”
A representative of
Wyden’s office stated the
senator met with Shafer
and tweeted a response.
“The impact from the
Shearer’s Foods explosion
cuts deeply in Hermis-
ton,” Wyden tweeted. “My
thoughts are with the vic-
tims, and I’m thankful for
the fi rst responders on the
scene. I’ve told Umatilla
County Chair John Shafer
that I stand ready to help
in any way I can to recover
and rebuild.”
Morgan expressed some
optimism about rebuilding.
“There may be some
salvageable core pieces
out there,” he said.
Shearer’s has a long
road ahead to get back to
where it was before the
fire, Morgan said, but it
is possible and the city is
committed to helping.