TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A massive blaze engulfed a rice mill warehouse in Wujie Township (五結鄉), a rural area in Yilan County (宜蘭縣) on Monday (June 30). The fire erupted around 8 a.m., sending plumes of thick black smoke visible for miles along National Freeway No. 5 (國5高速公路), a major transportation artery connecting Taipei to eastern Taiwan. Morning commuters watched in alarm as the smoke column rose against the summer sky, while local authorities scrambled emergency response teams to the scene.
The Yilan County Fire Department (宜蘭縣消防局) received the alarm at precisely 8:06 a.m. and immediately dispatched five fire brigades with over two dozen firefighters to combat the emergency. First responders arrived to find the 3,000-square-meter warehouse fully engulfed, with flames reaching several stories high and threatening nearby agricultural structures. Firefighters rapidly deployed multiple hose lines and established a perimeter to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent properties where harvested rice was stored. A department spokesperson confirmed that no employees were present in the facility when the fire started, as operations typically begin at 9 a.m.
Emergency services continued throughout the morning as firefighters worked to contain the blaze amid challenging conditions, including intense heat and limited water supply in the rural location. The Yilan County Fire Department has launched an investigation into the cause, with officials examining whether electrical malfunction or improper storage of agricultural chemicals might have contributed to the fire's rapid spread. County officials confirmed that despite the dramatic scene that unfolded during Monday's morning commute, no injuries were reported in what could have been a devastating incident for this agricultural community. ◼