The Jim Beam warehouse fire’s effects have hit the rivers…
The runoff from last week’s fire at the Jim Beam warehouse near Frankfort, Kentucky has traveled more than 20 miles along the Kentucky River, killing thousands of fish. And now the contaminated liquor is traveling into the Ohio River.
No people were injured in the fire. Flames were seen for miles and generated so much heat that fire truck lights melted. The initial report suggests that the fire resulted from a lightning strike.
The fire was finally extinguished over the weekend, and 45,000 barrels of bourbon were destroyed. State environmental officials are still assessing fish kill counts and wildlife impacts near the Woodford County facility.
The River Cleanup Process Is Expected to Take Weeks
Jim Beam has brought environmental consultants and cleanup contractors to the area. Crews have been using barges to aerate the water and bring oxygen levels up.
The Kentucky Energy & Environmental Cabinet posted to Twitter requesting that residents use caution while on the river. Low oxygen levels could have a serious impact on aquatic life. The “alcohol plume” from the bourbon runoff is approximately 23 miles long.
Jim Beam is a unit of Beam Suntory Inc. (OTC: STBFY), a division of Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. located in Chicago, IL. The company’s main headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan.
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. operates through both domestic and international segments — they engage in both the manufacturing and sale of food products, plus non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Its largest competitors are PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Co.
Although approximately 1% of Jim Beam’s aging bourbon inventory has been destroyed, the company gave a statement that consumers won’t be affected by their losses.
