FLAMBOROUGH - A half-dozen Highway 5 residents were evacuated from their homes after fire broke out at the Rothsay rendering plant.

The fire broke out in what is called a centrifuge — a 100-gallon tank — shortly after 4:30 p.m. yesterday. It contained animal fat and bone meal.

Heavy smoke poured from the west end of the plant and down the highway towards the homes.

The evacuation ended at about 6:30 p.m. after firefighters had smouldering fires in the walls of a tower under control. The centrifuge fire was extinguished just before 5:30 p.m.

Seventeen trucks and dozens of firefighters responded and police closed Highway 5.

Residents found their own ways to deal with the evacuation, such as going to dinner or shopping.

Four workers used an extinguisher on the fire, but called 911 when they were unsuccessful. The cause is not yet known.

The Hamilton Spectator