ARLINGTON — A two-alarm blaze that broke out at the National Foods Corporation plant right around 2 p.m. Nov. 10 will have fire crews working overnight to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings, according to Arlington Fire Department spokesperson Christine Badger.
Badger reported that roofing work had shortly preceded the fire, and that roofing crews responded to spotting smoke with fire extinguishers. Employees evacuated the building, and the only reported injury was one firefighter who sustained a first-degree burn on his neck due to the heat when he entered the building to check for flammable chemicals.
Badger noted that the building, which handles egg processing at 16900 51st Ave. NE in Arlington, contains sodium hydrochloride and ammonia. No chickens are kept in the building, and the propane, natural gas and electricity have all been shut off.
“The National Foods Corporation has been very forthcoming about informing us of the chemicals that are inside,” Badger said at approximately 3:30 p.m. “Hazmat 61 has been provided with hazardous materials sheets. We have 14 units on the scene, and firefighters are working defensively to prevent the spread of the fire outside of this building.”
As of press time, smoke could still be seen billowing from the roof.