SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Crews worked to contain an fire at a feed plant for mink in Sandy on Monday.
"It's a little scary. It's a lot of smoke," said Matthew Thorpe.
Twenty foot flames were seen shooting from the roof of the building known as the Fur Breeders Agricultural Cooperative in the industrial park at 8550 South 700 West.
It appears a mechanical process sparked a flash fire, said Craig Burningham of the Unified Fire Authority. "For me personally. This is a big one in my career," he said.
Everyone inside escaped unharmed, but the fire singed a worker's mushdash.
The fire was near a large tank and pipe filled with ammonia, which was cause for concern by hazardous materials crews because the heat could cause the tank or pipe to burst.
"That is one of the biggest concerns we have here, " says Sandy Fire Chief Don Rosenkrantz. "We needed to make sure those chemicals wouldn't release."
Another concern was power lines.
"We can't let fire get within ten feet of those lines," says Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Cline. "We've ordered the power to be shut off and it will affect alot of businesses and homeowners in the area.
Once the power was shutdown crews were able to inch closer to the fire and pour thousands of gallons of water.
More than a thousand homes and buisnesses and homes in Midvale and Sandy were affected by the power outage.
"It got cold enough for us to put blankets on us," said Larry Cruz who lost his power.
The power was restored shortly before 4 p.m. warming homes after temperatures dropped to near 60 degrees.
Fire officials used reverse 911 calls to evacuate workers and residents in the area, within a two to three block area south and southeast of the fire.
Officials said that the fire began between the ceiling and the roof of the building.
"Apparently some of the workers were doing work above the freezers and that caught on fire," says Rosenkrantz. "That's what caused the fire."
No one was hurt, but officials were concerned that the chemicals might pose a health danger to those who might breathe in the smoke.
Salt Lake Valley Health Department sent an inspector to keep tabs on the ammonia and phosphoric acid used at the plant.
"We need to make sure they're not ruptured," sais Rolf Larsen. "If they were and head down the sewer, South Valley Water and Sewer would have to be notified and that would change everything."
The weather report called for calm winds, which emergency crews hoped would keep the fumes from spreading.
The fire burned the Fur Breeders Cooperative building, which was the target of arson committed by animal activists in 1997.
But fire investigators say this fire appears to be accidental caused by workers.
