The fire that razed the storage building of Yuengling Brewery in Tampa, Florida was caused by the construction of a fire escape. Plant manager Jim Helmke said the workers were welding when parts of the wood got heated. It then caught fire which later spread through an area in the upper part of the brewery's storage building. Authorities said the fire was accidental but investigations were still ongoing.
Yuengling bought the building in 1999 from Stroh brewery. The plant produces beer for the states of Florida, Alabama and Tennessee.
DG Yuengling & Son has billed itself as the oldest brewery in America. Founded in 1829, it has continued to remain private despite offers to buy from major players in the beer industry. The fifth-generation owner is Dick Yuengling. He ranked 371st in the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of USD 1.4 billion. Forbes reported, "As the sole-owner, Yuengling favors measured growth - the company is only in 14 states so far - over incurring debt, and he would rather wear jeans and drive an old car than sell out and flaunt his wealth."
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