‘We are grateful for our firefighters’: Officials praise teamwork in dairy farm explosion response

DIMMITT, Texas (KFDA) - The explosion at the South Fork Dairy Plant is under investigation by the Texas State Fire Marshal.

According to the Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, the dairy plant has around 60 employees.

Mayor Roger Malone says firefighters rescued one person who was in the building at the time of the fire.

“We are grateful for our volunteer firefighters. When we need them, they show up,” said Mayor Malone.

Sheriff Rivera says this was the biggest fire he has ever seen.

“It was very big, I was north of Dimmitt and was able to see it heading this way, coming to the location you could tell the magnitude of it, it was really big. I’ve seen buildings fully engulfed with fire and smoke, it was just big,” said Sheriff Rivera.

Sheriff Rivera says part of the investigation is what caused the fire to become so big, however, he believes it was due to the insulation catching fire and spreading.

NewsChannel 10 is in contact with the University Medical Center in Lubbock where at least one person is receiving treatment for their injuries. At last check, they remained in critical condition.

Team Coverage of Dimmitt dairy farm explosion

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