GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA (trfnews.i234.me) — Firefighters rushed to the J.R. Simplot facility early Wednesday after an industrial fryer caught fire.
Emergency crews responded to the commercial building at 3630 Gateway Drive around 12:29 a.m. on November 4, 2026.
Smoke and flames were visible from the roof when firefighters arrived.
Crews quickly contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading beyond the industrial equipment.
No injuries were reported.
Fire Alarm Triggers Emergency Response
The Grand Forks Fire Department was initially dispatched following a water flow alarm at the facility.
While firefighters were traveling to the scene, dispatchers upgraded the emergency to a working structure fire.
The upgraded call indicated crews were responding to an active fire rather than an alarm alone.
When firefighters arrived, they encountered smoke and flames coming from the commercial building’s roof area.
Crews entered the building to locate the source of the fire.
Industrial Fryer Catches Fire Inside Facility
Firefighters discovered heavy smoke and active flames coming from a large industrial fryer.
The equipment was located inside the J.R. Simplot facility.
Firefighters worked alongside facility employees to bring the fire under control.
The joint response helped crews contain and extinguish the flames before they spread to surrounding equipment.
Authorities confirmed that fire damage was limited to the industrial fryer.
No additional structural damage was reported.
20 Firefighters Respond to Simplot Plant
The Grand Forks Fire Department sent 20 firefighters and several emergency vehicles to the incident.
The response included five fire engines, one ladder truck, and one command vehicle.
Firefighters received assistance from the Grand Forks Police Department and Altru Health System.
Employees and representatives from J.R. Simplot also assisted emergency responders at the scene.
No injuries were reported among plant workers or emergency personnel.
Investigators Determine Fire Was Accidental
Following the emergency response, investigators determined the industrial fryer fire was accidental.
Officials have not released additional details explaining exactly how the fire started inside the machinery.
Authorities also have not provided an estimated dollar amount for the equipment damage.
The incident highlights the importance of fire detection systems inside large industrial buildings.
Early warnings can help emergency responders locate fires before they spread through a facility.
Fire Contained Without Reported Injuries
Despite visible smoke and flames, firefighters successfully contained the fire to the affected equipment.
Officials reported no injuries and no fire damage beyond the fryer.
Information about any temporary changes to operations at the plant was not included in the initial report.
For more information, read Valley News Live’s report on the fire.
Additional fire prevention information is available from the Grand Forks Fire Department.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
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