Booneville Cargil Plant Explodes 3/23/08

Title:
Booneville Cargil Plant Explodes 3/23/08

Description:
BOONEVILLE, Ark. -- Firefighters said they are on the scene of a large, out-of-control fire at the Cargill Beef Packing Plant in Booneville in Logan County. The fire started in a freezer just before 2 p.m. Sunday and has been burning out-of-control all afternoon, despite the efforts of four agencies on the scene. Emergency management officials said they are concerned because at least one of the plant's ammonia tanks exploded, sending ammonia into the air. They said they are especially concerned about people breathing the smoke and ammonia fumes near the fire. sponsor Click here to find out more! Renee Preslar, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Emergency Management, said the fire involved an estimated 88,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, plus the plant had 100,000 pounds of nonflammable carbon dioxide, which is used in refrigeration systems. Crews initially evacuated residents within a half-mile radius of the plant. As the fire burned, however, they began evacuating more residents around the plant. The Booneville Nursing Home has also been evacuated. Officials said a total of 180 people have been evacuated. People who live outside a one-half mile radius to the south of the plant, and a one-quarter mile radius to the north, west or east were allowed to return home. Firefighters from across the River Valley have been called in to help fight the blaze, which continues to burn out of control. Crews, however, were unable to fight the fire using conventional equipment because of the danger and said that they would let it burn itself out. Emergency management spokeswoman Renee Preslar said a hazardous materials team from Sebastian County is heading to Booneville. Witness Meredith Voges said she heard the explosion while staying at a hotel just behind the plant. Voges said hotel staff and police urged everyone to evacuate immediately after the explosion. Cargill has about 2,000 employees in Arkansas. Mark Klein, a spokesman for the Minneapolis-based company, said the plant was closed Sunday, but about 20 contractors and a few other employees were at the site at the time of the fire. Klein said the plant, which produces frozen ground beef patties and steaks, uses ammonia in its refrigeration system. The plant employs about 800 people. Gina Kinney, a dispatcher with the Logan County Sheriff's Department, said there have been no injuries. Booneville is a town of more than 4,000 people in western Arkansas. Its Chamber of Commerce says the plant is the town's largest employer and lies just over a mile to the east of town. Cargill plant officials said workers should not report to work on Monday.

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Nevinzzz

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Booneville, Cargil, plant, explodes,