SANDY, Utah (AP) — A fire at an animal feed plant forced authorities to evacuate some nearby residents Monday as they tried to keep chemicals from getting into the air.
City spokeswoman Trina Duerksen said health officials and Utah National Guard were monitoring air quality at Fur Breeders Agricultural Cooperative, which houses containers of ammonia and other chemicals, she said. Evacuation orders were lifted Monday evening and the fire was out, though some hot spots remained.
"We're trying to figure out if those chemicals had been released," Duerksen said. As of midday, she said, there were no reports of dangerous air quality in the area.
"There is a strong odor so that's what they're concerned about, but they can't detect anything in the air strong enough that's hazardous," she said.
Some firefighters were expected to remain at the site overnight, and additional air quality monitoring was planned for Tuesday.
No injuries had been reported.
Rocky Mountain Power reported more than 1,100 customers were without power as of 1 p.m.
The same cooperative was the target of a pipe bombing by Animal Liberation Front activists in 1997, though at a different building. Authorities do not believe Monday's fire was arson. An investigation was ongoing.
