I could see and smell the black smoke from this fire as I stood outside my house last night. Spare a thought for those who fought the fire through the night and those who no longer have a job.

“THE people of Murray Bridge are reeling this morning after a fire ripped through the local abattoir — South Australia’s biggest and the town’s largest employer — causing tens of millions of dollars worth of damage.

Emergency services were called to Thomas Foods International’s meatworks, on the northern outskirts of Murray Bridge, after reports of a “significant” fire at the plant at 7pm on Wednesday night.

It is thought to have begun in the lamb boning room, with the main slaughter floor still intact.

The fire burned overnight and has now been contained, and firefighters say a large proportion of the abattoir has been saved.

Read more at Adelaide Now