Fire crews battle dryer fire at Hilmar Cheese Company

HILMAR, Calif. (KFSN) -- An investigation is underway after an early morning fire at the Hilmar Cheese Company. Fire crews were called out just after four this morning to the facility on Highway 165 at August.

Officials confirm there was a fire in one of the plant's whey driers.

Dozens of employees were safely evacuated from this portion of the facility.

Denise Skidmore, with Hilmar Cheese Company, said, "The rest of our operations will continue today. We'll continue making cheese today. This was really limited to one area in one specific part of our facility so it will have little impact, but we'll continue."

Whey is the by-product when making cheese. It is dried and used to make whey protein powders, infant formula, and protein bars.

A second drier at the facility will continue the operation.

The extent of the fire damage is not yet known at this time.