Workers evacuated safely after fire breaks out at Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; no injuries reported

Fire response in Cedar Rapids

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department said crews were dispatched to the plant at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Saturday. Images and video shared on social media showed dark smoke above the city’s downtown.

The department said the fire appeared to have started with an explosion. It did not provide an immediate explanation for what caused the incident.

Workers accounted for

Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said every worker got out safely and was accounted for, with no injuries. She said the fire was in a part of the building used to handle products.

O’Donnell said that area had relatively few employees and team members. PepsiCo Foods US said fire responders attended the scene and that investigators would look into how the fire began.

Plant and company details

The Quaker Oats facility is owned by PepsiCo. The brand, through the Quaker Mill Company, will mark its 150th anniversary in 2027. The company’s website describes the Cedar Rapids site as the world’s largest milling facility. It says the plant processes more than 2 million pounds, or 900,000 kilograms, of oats each day.