As many as two dozen firefighters were treated for chemical burns after responding to a fire at the Tyson Foods cooking plant in Berryville, Arkansas.
The fire started around 7 p.m. on January 15, and it was brought under control within three hours. A cause for the fire has not yet been determined, Carroll County Emergency Management Director Mike McKelvey told KY3.
While at the scene, firefighters experienced chemical burns from Caustic Soda Beads 99%, which is a is a highly alkaline chemical compound commonly used in a variety of industrial applications.
The injured firefighters received treatment at Mercy Hospital in Berryville. However, no plant workers were reported as injured, nor were any of the responding firefighters who were outside of the “hot zone.”
Personnel from four fire departments responded, as well as responders with local law enforcement and emergency medical services. McKelvey said a hazardous materials remediation team was also called in.
