Fire broke out on Tuesday night at United Cocoa Processors at Pencader Corporate Center at 701 Pencader Drive.. The blaze that broke out around 5 p.m. resulted in heavy smoke in the industrial area off Route 896 out of Newark.
Units were dispatched from the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Co., Christiana Fire C0. and other departments.
John Ferrell, IV, spokesman for Aetna,said the fire was confined to one area of the 93,00-square-foot building. A total of 11 engines were ate the scene and 70 firefighters and emergency medical technicians. No injuries were reported.
Fighting the blaze was made more difficult by icy temperatures that required firefighters rotate in out to limit exposure, Farrell said. The flat roof surface required continued work, with firefighters on the scene for several hours.
The company was recently profiled by in a story in the Technical.ly Delaware website.
According to its website, the company was founded in 1992 as an importer of cocoa butter and cocoa liquor to the North American market.
In 1998 a major expansion project was launched. Grinding began in 1999 and through continuous improvements, the company expanded its production line to include blocked cocoa butter, cocoa powders, blended cocoa powders, and blocked cocoa liquors.
An investigation is now under way by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office.