Firefighters are battling a massive fire that broke in Penobscot McCrum potato processing facility in Belfast, Maine on Thursday morning. Residents have been asked to take shelter as schools are being evacuated in the region. 

Also read: US calls Russia’s stock exchange ‘Potemkin market’ as trade resumes

Authorities suspect that the fire may have started in the fry room, the Sun Journal reported. The fire at the processing unit was first reported around 2 AM.

Fire departments from Belfast, Long Island town Northport, Camden, Rockport, Liberty, Morrill and Lincolnville responded to the fire, the report further stated. 

Penobscot McCrum LLC, formed in 2004 , processes a variety of potato products, including fries, wedges and cakes. 

Also read: Joe Biden, Western allies open 1st of 3 summits on Russian war

While no homes have been evacuated, local channel WABI-TV reports, the Waldo County Emergency Management Agency is advising Belfast residents to shelter in place. No injuries have been reported so far, Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley told News Center Maine. However, there is no official word from the fire authorities about how the fire started.

Also Read: Americans want President Joe Biden to be tougher on Russia: Poll

Jay McCrum, the CEO Penobscot McCrum LLC, as per local news channel Courier-Gazette, said that he believes the fire started in the fry room. He said that he received a call from workers who believed they had it under control. But then when he arrived at the plant, the fire had spread into an exhaust stack.

Also read: Native Americans face multiple barriers in casting their votes: White House report

Belfast Area High School students were sent home because of smoke from the fire, Regional School Unit 71 announced early Thursday. Later, school offiicials closed all schools for the day because of smoke carried by shifting winds. 

“The smoke has gotten so thick, you can’t even see the flames right now. They’re not able to put this out. It’s extremely bad,” Anthony Hybers, a resident, told WMTW.