A beef processing plant in Booneville, Arkansas, was destroyed as a fire broke out setting off a series of explosions Sunday afternoon.

The fire at the plant belonging to Cargill Meat Solutions, a unit of privately held agriculture giant Cargill Inc., didn’t cause any injuries. Possible leaks of ammonia gas and heavy smoke prompted authorities to temporarily evacuate parts of Booneville on Sunday.

"There was some welding work going on in one of the production areas of the plant and a fire broke out and got out of control. Everybody got out safely, but it did cause some disruptions in the city of Booneville," said Mark Klein, a spokesman for Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc.

The fire that destroyed the beef processing plant struck the Booneville community right where it hurts more – unemployment. The plant was an economic lifeline to the 4,000 residents of the small Arkansas town.

"They'll be applying for unemployment and food stamps. It's really going to hurt and this town is already hurting," said Manuel Mann, the pastor of the Southside Assembly of God in Booneville.

About 800 workers, mostly on two production shifts, were working at the plant that had a processing capacity of 500,000 lbs of beef a day.

The plant may be rebuilt, but it is not sure as the Cargill officials have not assessed the damages yet.

The work of the fire rescue crews was made more difficult because the danger posed by the estimated 88,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia stored at the plant which could have exploded at any time. Another 100,000 pounds of nonflammable carbon dioxide were stored inside the plant according to a spokeswoman with the state Department of Emergency Management.

Dispatchers received the call about the fire at 12:58 p.m. Sunday.

The fire broke out as some workers were welding some fans at the plant, Logan County emergency manager Don Fairbanks said.

"The welders had put their equipment up and turned around and there was a fire," he added.