Silo Fire at Tyson Feed Mill Causes Bad Odor

Snow Hill, MD, was hit with a pungent smell and is monitoring an on-going incident at the Tyson Feed Mill.

"I can't even describe it, it takes your breath away," said Jacob Lavie, who lives across the street from the feed mill. "I mean if you're outside too long you get nauseous, I mean it's unbearable." 

Lavie said the odor has began to impact everyday life. "I'll get home from work or we'll get back from the store or whatever and we go inside and you can smell it in the house, like all the windows are closed it's unreal," he said.

Tyson has informed Snow Hill of a fire inside one of the feed mill’s silos, according to a statement from the town. Snow Hill shared a statement from the company assuring the fire is contained inside the silo and Tyson is working closely with the local fire department to resolve the incident, reported local news WBOC.

“Because the silo contains corn, those in the area may notice an odor coming from the facility temporarily,” Tyson said to Snow Hill officials, according to the statement.

According to the statement shared Friday evening, the roads leading to the feed mill have been closed.

Snow Hill officials including the mayor, incoming mayor, town manager and chief of police met with Tyson representatives. Snow Hill says they pressed for assurances that the air quality was not a health risk and there were no threats to the surrounding neighborhood.

"But their [Tyson] environmental people when they go to open this tank, their environmental people will be there onsite to manage all of that air quality just to be sure," said Pruitt. 

Tyson reps said the air quality would be monitored by IA Bulk Materials, a company specializing in storage structure fires, according to the statement.

The chief of police also said Tyson is going to take some readings, dissipate the heat and cut a hole in the silo. And then they will extract the "bad material."