Employees of a major Milwaukee area employer are being asked to stay home until further notice following a fire that broke out late Sunday evening around 9:30 p.m.
There have been no injuries associated with the fire at the Patrick Cudahy meat packing plant and corporate headquarters, according to a company statement, and all employees in the plant at the time the fire was spotted got out safely. An evacuation order for a one-mile area surrounding the plant has been issued as a precaution because of low levels of ammonia in the air.
More than 100 firefighters from 15 area ire departments have been battling the fire, according to company spokesperson Phil Maher. Firefighters are continuing to bring the fire under control. Meanwhile, the plant's environmental, safety and health team is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of Patrick Cudahy employees and members of the community. A decision about when to reopen the plant will be made pending a damage assessment. Patrick Cudahy plans to resume normal operations as soon as possible.
