SALINAS (CBS SF/BCN) — A massive 4-alarm fire roared through the Taylor Farms food processing plant in Salinas late Wednesday night triggering the evacuation of the surrounding neighborhoods.
The evacuation notice was issued around 2:19 a.m. and was for the areas near the fire between South Main Street, East Alisal Street, Alisal Road and Harris Road.
READ MORE: Palo Alto Parents Greg and Amy Colburn Sentenced To 8 Weeks In College Admissions Scandal
Officials said they were issuing the order due to the potential for an explosion and hazmat plume of ammonia that can change the impacted areas based on shifts in wind direction.
“The fire progressed to the point that it poses a significant risk for a potential explosion of ammonia that is located in the plant,” said Sam Klemek, Deputy Fire Chief and Incident Commander. “For that reason, we pulled back our units to a safe area and have begun evacuation notices for the immediate area around the plant.”
A shelter-in-place order was expanded to include the areas South of Constitution Blvd. to Spreckels Ave and East of Main St. and Highway 68 to Hartnell Road.
Authorities were asking residents in the general area to remain indoors and keep pets inside, close all windows and shut down heating, ventilation and fans.
The evacuation announcement added that officials may need to expand the scene to a full closure of a 1-mile radius of U.S. Highway 101 in both directions.
Fire officials were asking the community to avoid the highway and use Old Stage Road as an alternate route.
COMING UP AT 11: Crews struggle to keep up with the raging fire at Taylor Farms in Salinas https://t.co/LJn9A5fALT pic.twitter.com/nv3i230ZOP
— KION News 5 46 (@KION546) April 14, 2022
Salinas Fire Chief Michele Vaughn said nearly 100 firefighters battled the blaze in the cold storage processing plant where a welding project sparked a fire in a wall and eventually spread to the attic of the 225,000 square-foot facility.
No people or produce were inside the plant, which was closed for the season and was scheduled to reopen Monday.
As of 11:30 p.m., fire officials said the blaze was not under control and there had been several roof collapses. Large black plumes of smoke could be seen coming from the building.
The plant is located in the 1200 block of Abbott Street, in an industrial area of the city. The facility contains an estimated 40,000 gallons of ammonia.
MORE NEWS: State Lawyer Resigns, Alleges Newsom Interfered In Activision Blizzard Lawsuit
No injuries have been reported in the fire, the chief said, but there have been several explosions from propane tanks.
Source: sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com.