Cause of fire at Hola Nola plant ruled electrical, officials say

GEISMAR, La. (WAFB) - Firefighters say the fire at Hola Nola Foods in Geismar is out after rekindling early Wednesday, June 16, officials tell WAFB.

Geismar Volunteer Fire Department Chief Nat Stephens said the fire, which started early Tuesday, June 15, rekindled around 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 16.

He said crews had the rekindling of the fire extinguished by 8 a.m. Wednesday. The chief said firefighters from Geismar Volunteer Fire Department and Gonzales Fire Department are still at the scene to ensure the fire does not rekindle for a second time.

Crews with an environmental company are currently at the facility to clean up the scene.

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is the lead agency in charge of investigating the fire.

In a statement Thursday morning, the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal determined the cause of the fire to be electrical in nature.

Allison Hudson, a spokesperson with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, said deputies and firefighters were initially called out to the food processing facility in the 6000 block of Industrial Drive shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Hudson said firefighters immediately began battling the blaze and later learned that the substance that was burning would take many hours to completely burn out. She said the fire was contained to

Officials say all employees of Hola Nola were safe and accounted for. No injuries were reported by either emergency responders or employees of the food processing plant.

Hudson said the response to the fire was a coordinated effort between the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office the fire departments of Gonzales, St. Amant, Geismar, and other emergency response organizations.

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