Plant fire forces evacuation of entire Minn. town

(AP) — Authorities evacuated this southeastern Minnesota town of about 3600 Friday as a large fire at a meat processing plant threatened the anhydrous ...

ST. CHARLES EVACUATED: Fire increased risk of chemical release ... Winona Daily News

The St. Charles evacuation Minnesota Public Radio

Massive fire forces evacuation of St. Charles Post-Bulletin

MN city evacuated due to poultry plant fire

ST. CHARLES, Minn. -- Authorities evacuated this southeastern Minnesota town of about 3,600 Friday afternoon as a large fire at a meat processing plant threatened the anhydrous ammonia tanks inside.
Civil defense sirens blared to warn residents to get out and officials went door-to-door ordering residents to head toward Lewiston, about 10 miles to the east, because of the fire at North Star Foods.
Sheriff's deputies began door-to-door evacuations of people and pets about 3:30 p.m., and evacuation centers were set up for displaced residents at a church on the edge of town and schools in nearby communities.
City Administrator Nick Koverman said there were about 30,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in five tanks in the plant. The refrigerant can cause severe burns, particularly to the eyes, throat and lungs. The cause wasn't immediately known, he said, and it wasn't clear when residents would be allowed to return.
"I can't give you a time frame on when you're going to be allowed to go home," Winona County Deputy Rod Hansen told over 100 residents who gathered Friday night at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
A hazardous materials team from Rochester was summoned as smoke poured from the sprawling building. Firefighters from surrounding cities converged to help fight the blaze. Police Chief William Eckles said a few firefighters suffered some smoke inhalation, but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
By early evening crews were venting the ammonia tanks to reduce the hazard, said Kristine Hernandez, a spokeswoman at the makeshift emergency operations center.
Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand said there would be no public access to St. Charles. Both major highways through the city were closed.
Smoke from the fire could be seen 10 miles away by late morning, and by late afternoon three tornado-like clouds of gray smoke were visible from five miles away. Hansen said that by nightfall the flames were no longer visible outside the plant.
North Star Foods plant manager Mark Eads said the fire started late Friday morning above one of the ovens where chickens are cooked.
"Within two to three minutes, there was smoke coming out of the room pretty heavy," Eads said.
Carolyn Nicklay, who works in human resources for the company, said she called 911 and firefighters quickly arrived.
"Everybody's out. Everybody's OK. That's all that matters," she said.
The Rev. Bill Cronin of St. Charles Borromeo drove through the center of town about 12:30 p.m. after celebrating Mass at a nursing home, before the evacuation order. He said the smoke was "really black and acrid-looking. ... You could almost smell the toxins in the air."
The nursing home residents were taken to Rochester, while some people from an assisted-living home were brought to the church, where Red Cross workers were rounding up cots for anyone who decided to stay the night there. Cronin said he was amazed at the well-organized response by emergency officials.
"If something can go very well, this went very well," the priest said.
North Star Foods is the second-largest employer in St. Charles with about 150 workers. Their futures were on the minds of some residents even as the fire burned.
Locally owned North Star Foods Inc. has been in business since 1971, serving industrial, retail and foodservice customers, according to its Web site. Its products include chicken, turkey, beef, pork and other food products.