Italy: Planet Farms' Milan facility catches fire

"On this difficult day, we confirm our mission toward innovation and sustainability, which has always characterized us and which we will continue to pursue with unchanged courage and commitment. We cannot at this time provide any information about the possible cause of the fire as due investigations are underway," the Planet Farms team responds to the news of a fire that broke out this morning at the plant in Cavenago di Brianza.

The night shift team was disrupted this morning by fire alarms that were activated around 5.45 AM when smoke was detected in the production facility. Luckily, the company declared that the situation is back under control and that the emergency teams, who immediately rushed in, did a commendable job in bringing the plant back to safety. The incident caused no harm to people or employees.

Despite this morning's incident, Planet Farms' growth and development program also continues with the construction of the next-generation plant in Cirimido, the progress of which is already at an advanced stage, and will be twice the size of the one in Cavenago.

"It is precisely in Cirimido that we will focus our efforts to accelerate the implementation of the project and to ensure the least possible inconvenience to our customers."

What we know
Amongst a team of 25 firefighters, experts in the Nuclear-biological-chemical-radiological were sent to the site. The Municipality of Cavenago invited citizens to keep their windows closed as a precaution. In the next few hours, Arpa, the regional environmental protection agency, will carry out investigations to understand whether high levels of harmful substances were released from the fire.

Photo credits: Il Giorno / Daily Motion

The origin of the fire is linked to failing machinery, reports Vito Cristino, commander of the Monza fire brigade. Reporting at 11.30 AM, the fire brigade described that the situation was under control with significant damage given the collapsed volume to put out the fire. The entire distinguishing of the fire is expected to take another few hours. Click here to view a video of the fire.

The 10.000 farming facility has only been up and running for less than 2.5 years since it officially opened its doors back on 25 October 2021. Back in November 2023, the firm raised $40 million to expand in Italy and the UK.