Firefighters encountered intense heat and cut several holes in the piping and ceiling to release the heat and prevent a possible explosion.

Sewert said emergency workers transported the firefighters to area hospitals for treatment of ‘heat-related problems’ but injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. All workers safely evacuated the building before firefighters arrived.

The cause of the blaze is unknown and is undergoing assessment by Cargill workers.

“The company said after making an initial assessment of what occurred here, they expected it to be a lot worse than what it was,” Sewert said.