Emergency Crews Responded to a Fire at Fonterra’s Clandeboye Factory

Firefighting personnel worked with Fonterra’s emergency management team at the Clandeboye site to identify and isolate the fire’s source. The teams also secured the area around the affected part of the facility while emergency procedures were put into effect.

Those procedures included evacuating the plant and accounting for employees and contractors working in nearby manufacturing blocks. Personnel were kept away from the affected zone as the response continued.

Responders and operational staff checked infrastructure adjoining the incident area for signs that smoke or heat had travelled beyond the initial location. Their monitoring covered processing equipment, ducting and storage spaces.

The Clandeboye operation is one of Fonterra’s largest dairy-processing sites in New Zealand. Located in the Timaru District, the multi-plant facility handles millions of litres of milk each day and produces whole-milk and skim-milk powders, cheese and dairy proteins made for foodservice and ingredients customers.

The site’s products include specialised milk powders and customised dairy proteins supplied to international markets. According to the information provided, the coordinated work of local fire services and the factory’s emergency team brought the incident under control before it spread to core processing or packaging equipment.