BERRYVILLE, Ark. (KY3/Gray News) – Two dozen firefighters and one employee have been treated and released from the hospital for chemical burns after battling a fire at a Tyson Foods plant in Arkansas.
The fire started around 7 p.m. Wednesday and firefighters had it contained shortly before 10 p.m.
According to officials, firefighters experienced chemical burns from 99% Caustic Soda Beads, which are used for various purposes, ranging from industrial cleaning and degreasing, water treatment and purification to chemical manufacturing and synthesis, food processing and preparation, and pulping and bleaching processes in the paper and pulp industry.
Tyson Foods sent its hazmat remediation team to Berryville. They shared the following statement Thursday morning:
“We appreciate the quick response from emergency personnel following a fire at our Berryville facility on Wednesday evening. The fire was extinguished, and we have resumed operations. The safety of our team members and the community is our top priority, and we are working closely with authorities to determine the cause of the incident.”
There was no risk to the public outside the plant, and emergency personnel outside the “hot zone” were not treated for chemical burns.
Emergency Management Director Mike McKelvey said the responding departments that had firefighters inside the plant had their fire gear contaminated by the chemicals.
The damaged fire equipment will need to be replaced.
Berryville is about 70 miles south to southwest of Springfield. Tyson Foods opened the plant in 1971.
McKelvey said the cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Copyright 2025 KY3 via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.