Dole Food HQ expected to reopen after fire evacuation

The massive Woolsey Fire that has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of residents to flee, caused the temporary shutdown of Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif.

The fire, which started Nov. 8, forced Dole to close its headquarters Nov. 9 and Nov. 12, according to Bil Goldfield, director of corporate communications for the company.

Mandatory evacuations of the area have have been lifted, and Goldfield said he expected employees can return Nov. 13.

“This has been an extremely tragic and distressful few days for our community,” Goldfield said Nov. 12. “These rapidly moving fires have affected all of us to one degree or another. Due to concerns for the safety of our associates in and out of the directly affected areas and their need to focus on their loved ones and property, Dole’s headquarters office in Westlake remained closed on Friday and today.”

As of Nov. 13, the fire had burned more than 96,000 acres and destroyed 435 structures, including hundreds of homes. Fire officials had reported it was 20% contained on Nov. 12. Two deaths have been attributed to the fire.