A massive fire broke out at the Agri Star meat processing facility in Postville early Tuesday morning, producing heavy smoke visible across the region as firefighters from multiple departments in northeast Iowa worked to contain the blaze.
The fire started at the Agri Star Meat and Poultry Plant, the largest employer in Allamakee County, prompting a major emergency response. Smoke from the fire drifted toward neighboring Fayette County, where authorities warned of potential visibility problems in the Clermont area.
Officials instructed the public to avoid the area and exercise caution while emergency crews remained on scene. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire has not been determined.
Agri Star operates as one of the world's largest kosher meat processing facilities. The company was purchased by Hershey Friedman in 2009 from the Rubashkin family and employs many Orthodox Jewish residents of the Postville community.