April 22--Multiple fire crews responded this morning to a fire that began in the brew house at MillerCoors Brewing Company in St. Clair Twp.
The fire was reported about 8:50 a.m. at 2525 Wayne-Madison Road, and when firefighters arrived heavy black smoke was coming out from the brew house, according to St. Clair Fire Chief Larry Anglin.
Employees and contractors were evacuated from the building but returned less than two hours later.
The fire was contained to a small area on the upper level of the brew house and no injuries were reported, Anglin said. St. Clair was assisted by crews from Madison Twp., Hamilton, Trenton, Fairfield and Fairfield Twp. fire departments, he said.
Vice President and Plant Manager Denise Quinn said all employees and contractors were evacuated and everyone was safe and accounted for.
Cat Corrigan, a MillerCoors spokeswoman based in Chicago, said she did not know if today's fire had any impact on production at the plant. She said the brew house is where the beginning of the beer-making process happens.
Corrigan said the brew house is where all of the raw materials come in and where the company physically makes the beer. After the beer is made, it goes to packaging then distribution.
The St. Clair Twp. brewery, which sits on 1,100 acres of land (about 33 acres under roof), opened in 1991 after being mothballed for 10 years after construction was completed. More than 560 people are employed at the plant that brews about 11 million barrels of beer a year, according to the MillerCoors website.
Anglin said it could take weeks to determine the cause of the fire. He said the fire is under investigation by MillerCoors and the Butler County Fire Investigation Team.
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