Slim Jim Blows Up

Garner, N.C. — The roof of a Garner food plant collapsed Tuesday morning following an explosion inside, authorities said.

Mayor Ronnie Williams said authorities told him 12 to 15 employees in the ConAgra Foods plant suffered from exposure to toxic fumes from ammonia leaks at the plant. Some employees also suffered chemical burns, he said.

A WakeMed spokeswoman said they were preparing for 10 to 12 patients.

The 50,000-square-foot plant at 4851 Jones Sausage Road was formerly owned by Raleigh-based GoodMark Foods and is known for making Slim Jim beef jerky products.

The cause of the explosion wasn't immediately known.

Leonard Spruill, a worker at the plant, told WRAL News that he heard a loud explosion and that several of his co-workers were badly burned. Spruill suffered burns on his leg and was headed to the hospital.

Footage from Sky 5 showed several holes in the roof of the plant, and seven or eight cars smashed under part of the front of the building, which had been blown outward. Liquid could be seen flowing from pipes along the roof and inside the plant, but it was unclear whether that was water or ammonia.

The state Highway Patrol has blocked Jones Sausage Road between Interstate 40 and East Garner Road, and troopers also closed several other nearby roads. Hazardous materials teams were responding to the area to contain and clean up leaking chemicals.

Family members of ConAgra workers were told to go to the Garner Senior Center, on Garner Road, for more information. Some relatives said workers told them they had suffered burns or had inhaled fumes.

East Garner Middle School and East Garner Elementary School are located nearby the plant, but Wake County school district officials said they were keeping students inside and didn't plan on dismissing students early.