Otley fertilizer storage fire still smoldering on Day 2; Residents encouraged to evacuate
UPDATE: As of Tuesday morning, Marion County authorities are recommending evacuation in and around Otley due to burning sulfur.
Residents are asked to contact Marion County Emergency Management for assistance. You can watch the full story in the video above.
About 100 people were evacuated Monday afternoon from around the site of a fire at Two Rivers Cooperative, located at 311 Business Highway 163.
It's not yet known what caused the fire at the fertilizer storage facility, which was still smoldering Monday evening, with flames and large plumes of smoke still visible.
Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt initially told vlog around 1:30 p.m. that neighbors of the co-op were voluntarily leaving their homes "just in case."
About 30 minutes later Sandholdt said the evacuation was made mandatory for anyone within a half-mile radius around the property due to chemicals stored at the co-op. That's about 100 of the town's 800 people.
Officials say the building full of fertilizer contained more than 1000 tons of urea, pot ash, mono ammonium phosphate and sulfur. They say it could burn for days.
Travel around Otley should be back to normal, other than roads closed directly around the site of the fire.
No injuries have been reported.
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WATCH: Fire reported at farm co-op in Otley, Iowa
RAW VIDEO: Otley, Iowa co-op catches fire
RAW VIDEO: Smoke billows from fire at co-op in Otley, Iowa