UPDATE: The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office says the evacuation order has been lifted in Grass Valley, and residents can return to their homes.
The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office says teams from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, hazardous materials clean-up crews are coming today to the site of a fire at a hemp manufacturing plant in Grass Valley. The town of Grass Valley remains under an evacuation notice this morning as a precaution against potential further explosions and release of toxic fumes from the fire, which occurred Sunday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Office says once the clean-up teams being brought in today give the all clear, the evacuation notice will be lifted. The Sheriff’s Office warned in a Facebook post on Sunday the fire could cause chemicals in the manufacturing plant to explode and asked the town to evacuate, telling anyone needing help to call emergency services. 243 people live in the town according to the 2020 census. The Sheriff’s Office said early Sunday evening on Facebook that the building was still burning and “fully engulfed,” and several small explosions had been heard. The Sheriff’s Office also indicated five plant employees were injured, with one suffering “significant” burns.