Fire Marshal's Office Deems Washburn Fire Suspicious

WASHBURN (NEWS CENTER) -- Investigators with the state fire marshal's office are in Washburn Monday trying to find the source of Sunday night's fire that detroyed the former McCain processing plant.

Washburn fire chief Troy Heald said the fire was called in around 6 p.m. Sunday.  Heald said because there's no power to the building, and it has been vacant for several years, investigators have deemed it suspicious.

The town owns the building and had plans to demolish it.  Heald says it's been at least 8 to 10 years since the building was being used.  He said at that time peas were being processed at the plant.

Heald added this was the first French fry processing plant in the United States.  The fire was mainly in the large freezer area of the plant.

Crews from Caribou, Presque Isle, and Mapleton helped put out the fire.  About 30 firefighters were on scene.  Most left around 10 p.m., but some stayed overnight to watch out for hot spots.