BOONEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Authorities fighting a blaze that destroyed a meat
plant ordered new evacuations Monday over fears that new fires could erupt amid
the smoldering debris.
An explosion Sunday destroyed much of the Cargill Meat Solutions plant,
which employs about 800 people and produced about 2 million pounds of frozen
ground beef patties and steaks a week. No one was hurt, but residents of this
west Arkansas town of 4,000 were worried about losing a major economic lifeline.
Emergency crews Monday cleared homes and businesses within a half-mile of
the plant over worries that an anhydrous ammonia tank might catch fire, the
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said. On Sunday a smaller evacuation
affected about 180 people.
A spokeswoman for the emergency response effort, Tanya Roberts, said Sunday
that gauges showed that much of the ammonia tanks were empty. A new alarm
emerged late Monday morning about another tank, however, forcing the expanded
evacuation, she said.
Logan County Emergency Manager Don Fairbanks said Sunday that workers
welding some fans noticed a fire after putting away their equipment. As the fire
grew, a series of small explosions rocked the 150,000-square-foot plant, he
said.
Plant workers were told to stay away Monday and a personnel manager said a
decision on rebuilding would come later.
Joe Holmes, a spokesman for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission,
said state officials were discussing the economic impact with local officials
and hoped to talk to Minneapolis-based Cargill about its plans for the plant.
"Obviously we want to work with them and get together a package to help them
rebuild and stay in Booneville," Holmes said.
Holmes said it was too early to discuss possible state incentives for the
plant.
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