A fire in what is reported as Australia’s largest abattoir has caused millions of dollars of damage.
The fire in the Thomas Foods International facility at Northern Heights east Adelaide, around 7pm on Wednesday 3 January was tackled by over 100 Firefighters from the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) who used water from a nearby lagoon to supplement their water supply.
An orderly evacuation took place after the alarm was sounded and there have been no reported injuries at the plant which employs around 1,400 staff who process beef and lamb.
In an online report an Official of South Australia Metropolitan Fire Service has stated that “the cause of the fire is accidental and believed to be linked to outdoor welding activity igniting a bin and then catching to the building.” They added that ” Early evacuation procedures by staff ensured all escaped safely.”
Thomas Foods have said they are transferring work to their other plants in order to continue their operations and fulfil orders.
Picture for illustration purposes. Photograph from the MFS Gallery.
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