A massive fire broke out early Tuesday morning at the Agri Star Meat & Poultry plant in Postville, Iowa, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and prompting a major emergency response.

The blaze was reported shortly after 4 a.m. at the sprawling kosher meat-processing facility. Witnesses described heavy smoke rising from the plant as firefighters continued battling the flames. An Agri Star employee confirmed that emergency crews were at the scene, though officials had not yet disclosed where inside the facility the fire began or how much of the plant was affected.

There were no immediate confirmed reports regarding injuries, evacuations or the extent of the damage. The cause of the blaze also remained unknown at this point.

Agri is owned by Hershey Friedman, who employs hundreds of workers, including local residents and shochtim.

It was previously owned by the Rubashkin family. Eventually it became the largest kosher meat-packing plant in the United States.

Additional information will be updated by YWN shortly.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)