Fire at Louisville produce distributor could affect avocado supply

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A fire at a fruit and vegetable distributor in Watterson Park could impact avocado supply.

Firefighters were called around 8:30 a.m. Thursday to the Horton Fruit Company in the 4700 block of Jennings Lane. Fern Creek Fire said a heating element caught fire and spread to several pallets of avocados.

No one was injured, but officials said the plant did suffer smoke damage.

"Guacamole could go up after this," Fern Creek Assistant Fire Chief Dewayne Hutchens said. "When you get the smoke that affects food products, there's very high, stringent safety concerns about making sure they're not contaminated."

The health department is assessing the damage and will determine the next steps of the clean-up process.

Related Stories:

Givaudan employee describes 'lots of leaks' at Louisville plant that exploded

Fire at Louisville produce distributor could affect avocado supply