Massive inferno at Hola Nola Foods facility likely sparked by electrical issue
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GEISMAR - A fire at the Hola Nola snack food factory in Ascension Parish was put out for a second time Wednesday after the flames rekindled in the early morning.
Firefighters initially responded to the incident at the Hola Nola Foods facility in Geismar around 3 a.m., Tuesday. Video filmed near the site showed smoke billowing from at least one of the buildings there.
The fire raged all day Tuesday and again on Wednesday morning.
Officials said the fire was contained overnight, but first responders returned to the facility 5:15 a.m. Wednesday when the flames returned.
A preliminary investigation determined the fire was electrical, officials said Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier, the fire department posted on social media about the massive response to the blaze.
"Every department in the parish has been out here," said James LeBlanc, Safety Director of the Ascension Parish Government. "We've had anywhere between 75 to 100 firefighters out here."
The Geismar Volunteer Fire Department echoed that sentiment in a social media post, stating that a number of first responders worked alongside Ascension Parish deputies to help contain the blaze.
Hola Nola Foods, which is based out of Geismar, is known for its assortment of tortilla chips sold at retailers including Rouses, Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, Target, etc.