United States-$70 million meat plant fire.

UNITED STATES-$70 MILLION MEAT PLANT FIRE.

A fire at North Star Foods on Friday destroyed the company’s facility in St. Charles , Minn. , and caused the evacuation of the town’s 3,600 residents. The evacuation was caused by the threat of exploding anhydrous ammonia tanks that were located inside the facility. While the tanks did not explode and residents were allowed to return to their homes on Friday night, the building was destroyed.

Nobody was injured in the fire. Mark Eads, plant manager, told the Star Tribune that 110 to 120 people were in the building at the time. "It started in the ceiling above a continuous-cook oven line," Eads said. "I don’t know if it was the oven that caused it or if it was the exhaust."

North Star Foods was founded in 1971. The company produces a variety of turkey products, as well as chicken, pork and beef items. North Star Foods’ co-owner, Patrick Thesing, said that he is unsure if the company will rebuild in St. Charles or elsewhere, adding that a new plant could cost between $65 million and $70 million. "We’re sifting through all the pieces," Thesing said.