A large fire erupted at the Agri Star meat processing plant in Postville on Tuesday morning, sending heavy smoke across the region. Multiple fire crews from northeast Iowa responded to battle the blaze at the facility, which is Allamakee County's largest employer.
The smoke drifted toward Fayette County, creating potential visibility hazards, particularly in the Clermont area. Authorities urged drivers and residents to avoid the area and use caution while emergency crews worked at the scene.
As of the report, no information had been released regarding injuries or the fire's cause.
Agri Star Meat and Poultry Plant is one of the world's largest Kosher meat packing operations. The company was acquired by Hershey Friedman in 2009 from the Rubashkin family and employs many Orthodox Jewish residents from the Postville community.