Explosions at Perdue in Accomac

Heavy smoke blew northwest into the sky from tanks where chemical explosions occurred at around 3 p.m., Wednesday, at Perdue Farms, in Accomac, while hundreds of employees were evacuated and others were kept from starting their shifts.

“We can confirm a fire outside of our Accomac facility,” Danielle Tergis, of Perdue Corporate Communications, said Wednesday night. “Out of an abundance of caution we have evacuated the facility. There are no reported injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

Accomack County used its Code Red Alert System to call landlines in the nearby communities and notify people by cellphone who had signed up for the service. They were told to stay inside and avoid the smoke.

Accomack County Public Safety workers, volunteer firefighters and rescue personnel from six local companies, and hazmat experts responded. Some stayed on the scene for hours waiting for the fire to go out as it couldn’t be battled in the usual manner. No injuries were reported.

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