Monmouth, IL – Fire heavily damaged the Wells Pet Food factory in Monmouth Sunday afternoon. The first call came in to the fire department during the noon hour. At least seven departments helped put out the blaze. Two firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion and one other suffered a hand injury, but no major injuries were reported. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution after acetylene tanks in the building exploded. The factory at South 6th and D employed 75 people. It produced several brands of food for dogs and cats. Damage is estimated to be up to $10 million. The heavy smoke could be seen from miles away and from a distance looked like a tornado.
Fire Damages Monmouth Factory
