Fire forces evacuation at Sungold Foods in Horace

HORACE, N.D. - A fire this afternoon forced employees to evacuate a sunflower processing plant in Horace.

An exhaust fan from an oven roasting sunflower seeds caught fire and spread to nearby plastic food containers at Sungold Foods, according to a Cass County Sheriff's Office news release.

Employees were able to partially contain the flames but called authorities about 1:40 p.m.

Horace and Kindred fire departments, Cass County Sheriff's Office and F-M Ambulance responded to the blaze.

Damage estimates were unavailable, and Cass County Deputy Dean Haaland said he expects employees will be allowed back in the building today.