Georgia Pecan Warehouse Fire Causes Wholesale Pecan Price Surge

A fire that began in a pecan warehouse in Camilla, Georgia on Monday night around 8 pm, Jan 14, 2008 has destroyed several million pounds of stored, unshelled pecan nuts with officials claiming that 20% of the State of Georgia's pecan tree crop of nuts for 2007 was ruined by burning. The pecan nut is loaded with oil, that once lit, will completely burn up the pecan- giving off a black smoke similar to diesel smoke. Once ignited the pecan nuts will flame with an intensity of petroleum fires. The oil in the pecan is super unsaturated, and that makes the pecan much more flammable than most nuts like the peanut, almond, and filbert. The unsaturated oil in the pecan nut also makes the pecan a health benefit since it is loaded with antioxidants.

The destroyed pecan warehouse was located on Baggs Ferry Road in Camilla, Georgia, and the heat from the fire was so intense that metal beams melted, and huge loads of black pecan smoke could be seen for miles; and schools were closed the following day, because so much water was used in fighting the pecan warehouse fire. Because millions of pounds of pecan nuts were destroyed, the wholesale price of shelled pecan nuts is expected to rise dramatically as predicted by agricultural economists.