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A FIRE HAS destroyed a massive Jim Beam warehouse filled with about 45,000 barrels of aging bourbon in Kentucky in the US.
State officials are now worried that the runoff whiskey seeping into the Kentucky River could kill fish.
Jim Beam is the world’s best-selling bourbon brand. The classic American whiskey brand is owned by Suntory Holdings Ltd, a Japanese beverage company.
Firefighters from four counties nearby responded to the fire that broke out on Tuesday night, which completely destroyed the warehouse.
It is believed lightning might have been a factor but fire investigators haven’t been able to start looking for the cause.
No injuries have been reported, according to local emergency management director Drew Chandler.
The fire has since been contained, but it was allowed to burn until midday yesterday.
“The longer it burns, the more of the distilled spirits burn with it,” Chandler said.
So when they go to put it out, there will be less contaminated runoff that goes into a drinking-water tributary.
Aging whiskey
The distilling company said the multi-story warehouse that burned contained “relatively young whiskey”, meaning it had not reached maturity for bottling for consumers.
Bourbon acquires its colour and flavour while aging for years in charred new oak barrels.
“Given the age of the lost whiskey, this fire will not impact the availability of Jim Beam for consumers,” the spirits company said in a statement.
The destroyed whiskey amounted to about 1% of Beam’s bourbon inventory, it said.
Kentucky distillers produce 95% of the world’s bourbon, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Environmental impact
As firefighters continued to battle the fire yesterday, focus began to turn to the environmental impact of the leaking bourbon.
The distiller has hired an emergency cleanup crew and state environmental officials are coordinating efforts to control bourbon runoff into a nearby creek that flows into the Kentucky River, according to a spokesman for the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.
“We do know there has been runoff enter the creek,” the spokesperson said. “And it has made its way into the Kentucky River.”
The runoff could have a “serious impact on aquatic life,” he said. Runoff is expected to create “low dissolved oxygen levels,” which could result in substantial fish kills, the agency said in a statement.
State officials have warned recreational users on the Kentucky River that runoff will result in water discoloration, foaming and an odor.
Beam Suntory officials said they are working with authorities to assess environmental effects.
The distiller said it was grateful to the “courageous firefighters” who brought the blaze under control and kept it from spreading.
Beam Suntory officials said the distiller has a “comprehensive” warehouse safety programme that includes regular inspections and “rigorous protocols” to promote safety.
Includes reporting by Associated Press
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No one truly understands the heartbreak but the response of the community has been magnificent.
That special bond between this mother and daughter should be supported in every way possible.
It might help her if she decides to move away and make a new life with her baby, I can’t imagine how much it hurts to be in a place where they should be. Or help pay mortgage etc and not worry financially. No doubt she would give it back in a second to spend one more hour with them.
Ah she’s hardly going move anyway she still has lots family around , say that is very important
It’s heartwarming to see something positive coming from such an awful tragedy…..while nothing will take away their pain and grief hopefully it will at least give them one thing less to worry about for the moment
Money means nothing in a situation like this but fair play to all involved.
Of course not Shane but in the day’s and year’s ahead it will mean a lot. It would be nice for her to have no mortgage or rent to worry about, she’ll have enough to deal with. People want to help her and putting a few quid into an account for her is a way of doing it
It’s not about the money – it is a reflection on how many are/were willing to help you in your time of need. Collections were made by the local community for my own family tragedy and I often look back and cherish the memory that people were there to help. Fair play to all who donated. This story has affected people in all corners of the world- on the DM people from the UK and US were looking to donate also.
We cannot bring them back so this is just a way of sending support. Hard times ahead but hopefully this will help.
Love your surname Mary.
Ta Brian, it’s almost as good as your profile pic ;)
This is probably the worst tragedy I have ever heard of how is that women gonna cope with this when things settle down that’s the scary part
I know it’s too late for this poor family. I can’t stop thinking about them. Slipways at piers everywhere now should be gated off like in that photo so nothing like this can happen again. Very very sad and upsetting.
if ever a ‘go fund me’ was needed; this one is surely it
Glad to see people rallied around. The money won’t replace her family but it will cover their funerals and give her and her little girl some security for now. Such a terrible tragedy.
Woman
The headline says it could happen to anybody yet we don’t hear of people driving off slipways every day.
have your say