Jim Beam Brands Co. agreed to pay $600,000 in fines and reimburse the Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet $112,000 because of a warehouse fire caused by a lightning strike last July.
The fire caused a warehouse collapse, and bourbon from 40,000 barrels spilled, resulting in fish being killed along 62 miles of the Kentucky and Ohio rivers.
Beam neither admitted nor disputed the charges, but said it agreed to the payments to resolve the matter.
In a statement Beam Suntory, Beam’s parent, noted that it was “able to minimize impacts to the surrounding environment and wildlife—including by deploying aerators in nearby creeks and the Kentucky River, fire suppression and containment strategies to minimize runoff, and ongoing water sampling and water field screening—we recognize the regrettable and unavoidable impacts of the incident and have been committed to doing what we can to restore the environment. . . .
“Amidst the challenge and heartbreak of the lightning strike, ensuing fire and resulting impacts, we will always remain grateful for many things: the fact that no one was hurt, the unsurpassed courage of the first responders, the inspiring support of the community and the natural beauty of Kentucky that we’re all committed to protecting.”