An explosion and fire hit the Quaker Oats plant in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2026. Officials said all workers were accounted for and no one was hurt. The cause has not been determined. If you are wondering what happened to the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, here is what officials and the company have confirmed so far, and what is still unknown.
What happened to the Quaker Oats plant
Cedar Rapids police and firefighters were dispatched at about 4:45 p.m. on Saturday to the back side of the Quaker Oats building because of a reported explosion, according to The Gazette, citing a fire department news release. KCRG reported that the call came in at 4:44 p.m. and that the fire was on the side of the facility facing away from Interstate 380.
Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the north side of the building, along with evidence of an explosion, The Gazette reported. WeAreIowa quoted the Cedar Rapids Fire Department as saying crews found “what appears to be evidence of an explosion and subsequent fire.”
All plant workers were accounted for as of 5:30 p.m., according to the city, as reported by CBS 2 Iowa and The Gazette. The Gazette and KCRG reported that no employees or firefighters were injured, and that there were no deaths.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said in a video statement from the scene that all employees were accounted for and no one was injured, according to The Gazette. “This happened in an area of the plant that’s kind of in the back, where I understand people fortunately typically aren’t,” she said. “It’s an area where product moves back and forth so fortunately, we didn’t have people where this reported explosion took place.”
A large plume of dark smoke could be seen over the area, and traffic backed up on I-380 near the S-curve, CBS 2 Iowa reported. KCRG said viewers reported hearing and feeling an explosion before the smoke appeared.
Timeline
All times are Central time on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, as reported by local outlets.
- About 4:44–4:45 p.m.: Police and fire crews are dispatched to the Quaker Oats facility for a reported explosion and fire, according to KCRG and The Gazette.
- 5:30 p.m.: All plant workers are accounted for, the city said, according to CBS 2 Iowa and The Gazette.
- Around 6 p.m.: Workers begin leaving the employee parking lot, The Gazette reported.
- Early evening: The fire is declared under control. Reports differ on the exact time: The Gazette reported 5:55 p.m., while KCRG reported 6:15 p.m.
- 6:25 p.m.: The fire department says limited operations are still addressing final efforts and overhaul inside the building, according to The Gazette and KCRG.
The Gazette reported that after Cedar Rapids committed all of its available resources, help came from Marion, Hiawatha and Linn County, along with Area Ambulance Service, citing the fire department.
What the company said
The plant is owned by PepsiCo. A spokesperson for PepsiCo Foods US issued this statement, according to The Gazette: “This evening a fire started at the Quaker facility in Cedar Rapids. First responders are on-site working to ensure the fire is controlled and quickly put out. Details of how the fire started will be investigated. We can confirm all employees are accounted for, and we are grateful to the first responders who continue to operate at the facility to control the fire.” WeAreIowa also reported that PepsiCo said it would investigate how the fire started.
What is not confirmed
Officials have not announced what caused the explosion or the fire. The Gazette, KCRG and WeAreIowa all reported that the cause is under investigation. Any claims online about a specific cause have not been confirmed by the fire department, the city or PepsiCo.
The extent of the damage to the facility and any effect on production are also unclear, The Gazette reported. As of this update, neither PepsiCo nor city officials had publicly said whether the plant’s operations or product supply would be affected.
Why it matters
The Cedar Rapids plant is a major site for Quaker. The Gazette and WeAreIowa both reported that it is the largest milling facility in the world, processing more than 2 million pounds of oats a day, according to the Quaker Oats website. The plant sits in downtown Cedar Rapids near I-380.
No injuries were reported. The mayor said the explosion happened in an area of the plant where people typically are not, and officials said everyone was accounted for within about 45 minutes of the first call. Firefighters also escaped injury, according to The Gazette.
What’s next
Investigators are working to determine how the fire and explosion started. Officials said they would release more information when possible, CBS 2 Iowa reported. Key open questions include the cause, how much of the facility was damaged and whether production will be interrupted.
We will update this explainer when the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, the city or PepsiCo releases new information.
FAQ
Was anyone hurt in the Quaker Oats fire in Cedar Rapids?
No. Officials said all workers were accounted for and no employees or firefighters were injured.
What caused the Quaker Oats explosion?
The cause has not been announced. It is under investigation.
When did the Quaker Oats fire happen?
Crews were dispatched at about 4:44–4:45 p.m. Central time on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.
Who owns the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids?
PepsiCo. A PepsiCo Foods US spokesperson said details of how the fire started will be investigated.
Is the fire out?
Officials said the fire was under control Saturday evening, with crews continuing overhaul work inside the building.
Will Quaker products be affected?
That has not been announced. The extent of the damage and any impact on production were unclear as of Saturday night.
Updated October 25, 2026