http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200..._us/us_meatpacker_fire
CUDAHY, Wis. ? A large blaze gutted part of a meatpacking plant south of Milwaukee on Monday and authorities warned thousands of area residents to temporarily evacuate because of the possibility of an ammonia explosion.
More than 130 firefighters battled the blaze at the Patrick Cudahy Inc. plant in Cudahy (CUH'-duh-hay), a suburb of about 18,000 residents seven miles south of downtown Milwaukee. The fire started Sunday night.
Crews were able to contain the ammonia, which is used in refrigeration, to a part of the plant where flames were not expected to reach, Fire Chief Dan Mayer said. He said he was "cautiously optimistic" an ammonia explosion would be avoided.
Ammonia can be extremely toxic and may be fatal if inhaled.
Only a few of the company's roughly 2,000 workers were at the 117-year-old plant when the fire started, said Carla Peterson, a plant official.
There were no injuries, but representatives for two hospitals said five people from the area reported breathing problems. Two were treated and released and three elderly people were admitted, each with underlying health conditions that made them more vulnerable.
Nearby residents were told to evacuate because of the threat of toxic fumes, but Mayor Ryan McCue said the order was lifted as of 7 p.m. because no ammonia had been detected. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was monitoring air quality.
Most residents said the smoke smelled like burning wood, and none reported smelling ammonia.
"I feel we'll be fighting this fire for a minimum of another 24 hours," Battalion Chief Gary Posda said.
The mayor urged Cudahy residents to conserve water because 8.5 million gallons already had been poured on the fire. He declared a state of emergency so city officials could request more county and state resources.
Smithfield Foods Inc., which owns the Patrick Cudahy plant, said it was evaluating the fire's possible fallout for customers.
"Currently, we do have available capacity at other Smithfield facilities and will be able to make up any product shortfalls in short order, minimizing any disruption to our customers," the statement said.
Dale Kordylas, 50, said his father, grandparents and great-grandfather all worked at Patrick Cudahy and was worried about whether the plant would remain open.
"How many aren't going to be called back because of this?" he asked. "That is what everybody here is worried about."
Bill Otis, the chief operating officer for Patrick Cudahy, said it was too early to know if any jobs would be affected.
Smithfield Foods is the nation's largest hog producer and pork processor. The Smithfield, Va.-based company has been restructuring its business to focus on its packaged meat business, like that done at the Cudahy plant, as it deals with weak prices for hogs and tries to recover from record high ingredient costs last year.
A federal safety agency has cited Patrick Cudahy a number of times since 2000 for various violations.
In 2003 the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the company $72,000 for seven violations, including four labeled "serious." An OSHA spokesman couldn't immediately say what the violations were for.
In 2006 the company paid the $2,400 to settle three other "serious" violations.
not even real bacon, but that crap. but there was also alot of ammonia in the area which is not so good.
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