24 firefighters, 1 employee treated for chemical burns battling fire at Tyson Foods plant in Berryville, Ark.

BERRYVILLE, Ark. (KY3) - Two dozen firefighters and one employee have been treated and released from a hospital for chemical burns after battling a fire at a Tyson Foods plant in Berryville.

The fire started around 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Firefighters contained it shortly before 10 p.m.

Carroll County, Arkansas, Emergency Management Director Mike McKelvey says the cause of the fire is still undetermined. Firefighters experienced chemical burns from 99% Caustic Soda Beads, which are used for various purposes, including industrial cleaning and degreasing, water treatment and purification, chemical manufacturing and synthesis, food processing and preparation, and pulping and bleaching processes in the paper and pulp industry. Doctors say the firefighters are in stable condition.

Tyson Foods sent its hazmat remediation team to Berryville. They shared a statement with KY3 on 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. McKelvey says that 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.

“We have over probably 1,500 people there, so it’s the lifeblood of Berryville’s economy, and it would be devastating if we lost that plant,” said resident Mark Strough.

Berryville, Eureka Springs, Green Forest, and Oak Grove fire departments responded to the fire. Berryville police, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Southern EMS also assisted.

“When there’s a chemical involved, I mean, that’s a whole new level of fighting, and that’s probably something we don’t have to face that often, but that may be something we need to look into in this community like if this happens again, are we prepared with the PPE’s and everything needed to fight those,” said Strough.

Berryville is about 70 miles south to southwest of Springfield. Tyson Foods opened the plant in 1971.

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