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Authorities: Ark. meat factory explodes
AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/23/08 | AP

Posted on 03/23/2008 1:41:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

BOONEVILLE, Ark. - A meat packing plant exploded Sunday afternoon, injuring an unknown number of people and forcing homes to be evacuated because ammonia gas leaked into the air, state officials said.

Flames poured out of the Cargill Meat Solutions plant just after 2 p.m., witnesses said. It wasn't immediately known how many homes were evacuated in the western Arkansas town of 4,000, emergency management spokeswoman Renee Preslar said.

A hazardous materials team from Sebastian County was heading to Booneville, Preslar said

Meredith Voges, 22, of Connecticut, said she heard the explosion while staying at a hotel just behind the plant. Voges, a member of a film crew shooting footage for a television program about a Booneville school principal, said hotel staff and police urged everyone to leave the area.

"The whole factory was ablaze with black smoke flying into the air, plumes of smoke," Voges said.

Booneville is about 90 miles northwest of Little Rock.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: arkansas; authorities; booneville; cargillmeatsolutions; explodes; fire; hormell; illegalaliens; immigration; meatfactory; swiftmeatpacking
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1 posted on 03/23/2008 1:41:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

Now that was some rancid meat they were packing.


2 posted on 03/23/2008 1:43:37 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: NormsRevenge

BBQ, Clintoon style?


3 posted on 03/23/2008 1:43:46 PM PDT by WVKayaker ( "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome..." I. Asimov)
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To: NormsRevenge

I suspect cow pharts


4 posted on 03/23/2008 1:44:37 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Who Would Montgomery Brewster Choose?)
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To: NormsRevenge

Defective sausage casings?


5 posted on 03/23/2008 1:44:53 PM PDT by aomagrat (Gun owners who vote for democrats are too stupid to own guns.)
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To: WVKayaker; NormsRevenge
BIG BBQ!!!
6 posted on 03/23/2008 1:45:29 PM PDT by SouthTexas (A Very Blessed Easter to All!)
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To: SouthTexas

Cargill Meat Solutions

a little too much ‘solution’ in this batch, it seems.. damn!


7 posted on 03/23/2008 1:47:11 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge

There were a ton of chicken farms along with meat packing and egg packing built during the Clinton years in that neck of the woods.They all stink.


8 posted on 03/23/2008 1:49:34 PM PDT by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghan Honor Roll students.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I’ve always been a little suspicious of exploding meat.


9 posted on 03/23/2008 1:49:44 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("Global warming" CAUSES global cooling? Sounds like globaloney to me.)
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Part of the

Cargill Value Added Meats Facilities
http://www.cargillmeatsolutions.com/about_us/tk_cms_about_loc.htm

Booneville

http://www.cargillmeatsolutions.com/about_us/tk_cms_about_loc_meat_boone.htm


10 posted on 03/23/2008 1:50:40 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge

That stuff usually doesn’t cause explosions until after I eat it.


11 posted on 03/23/2008 1:50:48 PM PDT by Emmett McCarthy
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Great.
Now I’m gonna be hungry all day.


12 posted on 03/23/2008 1:51:26 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Satisfaction was my sin)
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To: NormsRevenge

We’ve blown up pits before, but never the whole party!


13 posted on 03/23/2008 1:51:41 PM PDT by SouthTexas (A Very Blessed Easter to All!)
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To: NormsRevenge

The fire has been burning out of control all afternoon, despite the efforts of four agencies on the scene.

Emergency management officials said they are concerned the plant’s ammonia tanks may have been damaged and could be leaking.

Crews are evacuating residents within a half-mile radius of the plant.

http://www.4029tv.com/news/15683393/detail.html


14 posted on 03/23/2008 1:53:07 PM PDT by A. Morgan (VOTE FOR A LIBERAL N' WE'LL BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN ILLEGALS and OUTA' GAS!)
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To: NormsRevenge
Cargill Meat Solutions

Now there's a thought-provoking name.

I wonder how come I've never seen a "Meat Solutions" section in a restaurant menu?

15 posted on 03/23/2008 1:53:29 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Free New York)
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To: NormsRevenge
Too much “soylent” in that batch. That stuff is volatile!
16 posted on 03/23/2008 1:54:17 PM PDT by Delta 21 ( MKC USCG - ret)
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To: SandRat

Methane gas. My wife would be proud if that blast was from me, not her.


17 posted on 03/23/2008 1:55:35 PM PDT by hkp123
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To: A. Morgan

Thanks, ammonia is bad stuff to be around.. hope they get it out without further injuries


18 posted on 03/23/2008 1:57:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: hkp123

19 posted on 03/23/2008 1:57:11 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: armymarinemom
"There were .. snip .. built during the Clinton years in that neck of the woods.They all stink."

Getting rid of evidence now that it looks like the x42's might not make it back into the White House.

PAAAAARRR- TAY !!!

20 posted on 03/23/2008 1:57:53 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true.)
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To: RandallFlagg

check the fridge for something meaty-like made there.. the solution is out there. :-}


21 posted on 03/23/2008 1:58:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: SandRat

BTW, that means another $ or 2 or 3 to the price of burger. Screw them, they’re poisoning us anyway. Speed beef rules.


22 posted on 03/23/2008 1:58:46 PM PDT by hkp123
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To: NonValueAdded
"I suspect cow pharts"

Betsy pleads the 5th.


23 posted on 03/23/2008 1:59:45 PM PDT by vietvet67
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To: NormsRevenge

Two Photos at:

http://www.kfsm.com/global/story.asp?s=8057192


24 posted on 03/23/2008 2:01:21 PM PDT by A. Morgan (VOTE FOR A LIBERAL N' WE'LL BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN ILLEGALS and OUTA' GAS!)
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To: A. Morgan

another local station has this one as well, a couple pics as well.

Big fire at Booneville’s Meat Plant
http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=8057192


25 posted on 03/23/2008 2:01:44 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge

Red meat MAY be bad for you

but exploding meat - that stuff can kill you!


26 posted on 03/23/2008 2:02:59 PM PDT by ASOC (I know I don't look like much, but I raised a US Marine!)
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To: A. Morgan

lol.. Thanks, I just saw that too.. no video links out there so far..


27 posted on 03/23/2008 2:03:49 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: hkp123
sorta like this???

Laxative drink

28 posted on 03/23/2008 2:03:50 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: NormsRevenge

Ability to breathe fire no longer available in Bud Light.


29 posted on 03/23/2008 2:07:14 PM PDT by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: NormsRevenge

The plant employee about 800 people and is the largest employer in Booneville which is a town of more than 4,000 in western Arkansas.

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aID=103970.35423.116112


30 posted on 03/23/2008 2:09:34 PM PDT by A. Morgan (VOTE FOR A LIBERAL N' WE'LL BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN ILLEGALS and OUTA' GAS!)
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To: A. Morgan

it’s gonna hurt financially, that’s a sizeable number of folk.


31 posted on 03/23/2008 2:12:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: A. Morgan

“If an explosion last for more than four hours, seek medical attention.”


32 posted on 03/23/2008 2:13:43 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: NormsRevenge

A good friend of ours (Granny Sharon to my daughters) works, or should I say now - worked there. Thankfully, she was not working today (was volunteer workers today for double-time pay)!

The word I got from them - some construction was going on, someone on the construction crew was welding too close to something that collapsed, rupturing an ammonia tank. The ammonia prevented the firefighters from getting the fire put out quickly - thus it is still burning as of right now (4:17 pm). Looks like a total loss by the time it all burns out.


33 posted on 03/23/2008 2:17:29 PM PDT by TheBattman (LORD God, please give us a Christian Patriot with a backbone for President in 08, Amen.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I hope there is no serious injuries.


34 posted on 03/23/2008 2:18:19 PM PDT by Mark was here (The earth is bipolar.)
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To: A. Morgan
Not only ammonia but just heard on Fox that there may be chlorine involved also
35 posted on 03/23/2008 2:19:18 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: TheBattman

Thanks for the update..


36 posted on 03/23/2008 2:20:10 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge
"a little too much ‘solution’ in this batch, it seems.. damn!"

oops! Formula 410 I presume?

37 posted on 03/23/2008 2:21:56 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I can’t understand why so many folks on here think this is so funny, when emergency workers at the plant don’t know if anyone has been injured or not.


38 posted on 03/23/2008 2:21:58 PM PDT by A. Morgan (VOTE FOR A LIBERAL N' WE'LL BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN ILLEGALS and OUTA' GAS!)
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To: NormsRevenge

Don’t you just hate it when your meat explodes?


39 posted on 03/23/2008 2:32:31 PM PDT by infantrywhooah
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To: A. Morgan

posting at FR is a release mechanism for some I reckun, these threads are not immune ... but I hear ya.

I hope they have the gear to get in and get the job done..


40 posted on 03/23/2008 2:34:39 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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article update ,, same link

BOONEVILLE, Ark. - A meat packing plant exploded Sunday afternoon, forcing homes to be evacuated because ammonia gas leaked into the air, state officials said.

It was not immediately known if there were any injuries, but a witness said she saw injured people.

Flames poured out of the Cargill Meat Solutions plant just after 2 p.m., witnesses said. It wasn’t immediately known how many homes were evacuated in the western Arkansas town of 4,000, emergency management spokeswoman Renee Preslar said.

A hazardous materials team from Sebastian County was heading to Booneville, Preslar said

Meredith Voges, 22, of Connecticut, said she heard the explosion while staying at a hotel just behind the plant. Voges, a member of a film crew shooting footage for a television program about a Booneville school principal, described the scene as “chaotic” and said hotel staff and police urged everyone to leave the area.

“The whole factory was ablaze with black smoke flying into the air, plumes of smoke,” Voges said. She said she saw injured people.

Cargill Inc. has about 2,000 employees in Arkansas, according to its Web site. Mark Klein, a spokesman for the Minneapolis-based company, said the plant was closed Sunday, but about 20 contractors and a few other employees were at the site at the time of the fire.

Klein said the plant, which produces frozen ground beef patties and steaks, uses ammonia in its refrigeration system. The plant employs about 800 people.

Booneville is about 90 miles northwest of Little Rock.


41 posted on 03/23/2008 2:37:25 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge
Here, ya go, Norm. On me..
42 posted on 03/23/2008 2:38:03 PM PDT by A. Morgan (VOTE FOR A LIBERAL N' WE'LL BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN ILLEGALS and OUTA' GAS!)
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To: A. Morgan

Danke.


43 posted on 03/23/2008 2:39:19 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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To: NormsRevenge

Would it be wrong of me to wish a heavy pork rain on the nearest mosque?


44 posted on 03/23/2008 2:41:29 PM PDT by manic4organic (Send a care package through USO today.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Be careful when handling meat from China.


45 posted on 03/23/2008 2:53:12 PM PDT by 353FMG (Vote for the Person who will do the least damage to our country.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Big Beef O’rama.


46 posted on 03/23/2008 3:01:58 PM PDT by Conservative4Ever
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To: NormsRevenge

I don’t know much about the subject but could someone explain to me how ammonia figures into the processing of meat? In the volume to necessitate storage tanks full of it?

Considering becoming a vegetarian...


47 posted on 03/23/2008 3:06:46 PM PDT by vlad335
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To: NormsRevenge; bcsco; HiJinx; eeevil conservative

http://www.wehirealiens.com/index.asp

Enter all or part of employer name

Cargill


I wonder what ammonia might be doing near a food-processing plant?

And what is the status of the reported violations?


48 posted on 03/23/2008 3:38:54 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Honor Your Oaths! Defend the Constitution from Enemies--Foreign and Domestic!)
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To: vlad335

What little I know about it: ammonia gas, under pressure, is commonly used as a refrigerant in meat packing plant cooling systems. Less expensive that other refrigerants and usually a lot of safety measures in place. It has nothing to do with the actual meat being processed, other than keep the whole place cold. Experts welcome.


49 posted on 03/23/2008 3:39:43 PM PDT by Kanzan
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance

the ammonia is part of their refrigerant system at that plant

not sure on violations..


50 posted on 03/23/2008 3:44:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline —1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRGeT)
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