• Article Photo. The Vinton Fire Dept responded to a call at the Kerry soy processing plant Monday in Vinton.
    The Vinton Fire Dept responded to a call at the Kerry soy processing plant Monday in Vinton.
  • Article Photo. Smoke rises from a processing unit at the Kerry soybean plant as firefighters respond.
    Smoke rises from a processing unit at the Kerry soybean plant as firefighters respond.
  • Article Photo. Firemen prepare hoses on the east side of the Kerry facility as others fight the fire on west side.
    Firemen prepare hoses on the east side of the Kerry facility as others fight the fire on west side.
  • Article Photo. Vinton fireman Kipp Schoettmer battles the smoke during the fire call at the Kerry facility Monday.
    Vinton fireman Kipp Schoettmer battles the smoke during the fire call at the Kerry facility Monday.

The Vinton Fire Department was called to the Kerry plant on M Avenue in Vinton shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, May 24. 

The Vinton facility processes soybean into soy flour and other edible items for the Kerry company, which is based in Ireland (See the Kerry Web site HERE). The local company was formerly called Iowa Soy before its acquisition by Kerry.

A large processing unit on the west side of the building was emitting a large quantity of smoke when firefighters arrived. The North Benton Ambulance also responded to the scene, as it routinely does for fire calls.