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Electrical fire halts production at Berry Plastics plant

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) – An electrical fire at Berry Plastics’ Evansville plant has halted production at the factory that’s one of the southwestern Indiana city’s biggest employers.

Evansville Fire Department District Chief Bob Alexander says a large panel of conduits “blew up” about 8:45 a.m. Friday at the company’s downtown Evansville facility, forcing the evacuation of the building’s 300 first-shift workers.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports no injuries were reported at the plant, which makes plastic bottles and other products.

Berry Plastics spokeswoman Eva Schmitz says first shift workers were sent home for the remainder of the day and it was unclear if production would resume Friday.

The plant employs about 1,800 people, ranking it among Evansville top five biggest employers.