CAMILLA, GA — A Tyson Foods poultry plant in southwest Georgia is rocked by an explosion, killing one woman and injuring several more people.

The fire hit the poultry processing facility on US-19 in Camilla overnight. The fire chief in Camilla says the fire was put out around 2:50 A.M. Friday.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 1,600 workers at the plant, says the fire was caused by a boiler explosion. Tyson says in a statement that it’s working closely with local authorities to determine the cause of the explosion.

“This is a big industry for Mitchell County,” says Mitchell County Coroner Jamey Thompson. “I know it’s a horrible tragedy for the victims that were burned and also for the victim that did die.”

Thompson says the woman who died did not even work at the plant; she is the wife of a truck driver who delivers there.

RWDS says Tyson had invested $34.2 million in 2019 to expand the facility in Camilla. The 35,000 square foot expansion included construction of a “mega line” that led to the hiring of 100 new team members at the facility. The union says the plant primarily produces chicken nuggets and chicken fillets for restaurants.

The Camilla fire chief indicated on Friday that there will be a long-term recovery process. The union and coroner say there is a lot of debris hanging over the victim and heavy equipment is needed in order to get to her.

“We extend our deepest condolences to their family and friends during this difficult time. Right now we are still gathering the facts, but ensuring the safety of our team members is our top priority, and we are conducting a full investigation into the cause of the fire,” Tyson said in a statement.