UPDATE
During a news conference Thursday afternoon Sam Klemek, Deputy Fire Chief with the Salinas Fire Department, announced all Evacuation Orders and Shelter-in-Place Orders have been lifted.
Klemek says the Taylor Farms production facility on Abbott St. is a total loss.
All hazardous materials on the property have been secured.
The facility had been cl0sed for the winter season and the company was in the process of preparing the plant for its seasonal move to Salinas.
Taylor Farms says its immediate plan is to continue operating its Yuma, AZ facility.
Over the next few days and weeks, Taylor Farms will be utilizing all of its North American capacity to assure supply.
Earlier:
Salinas Fire Department tells KSBW 8 that the fire at the Taylor Farms Processing Facility at 1225 Abbott Street is contained.
Crews are on scene and continue to monitor hot spots.
Hazmat teams are assessing any potential threats related to ammonia but the Salinas Fire Chief says those threats appear to be minor.
The Evacuation Order in the industrial area of South Salinas remains in place. This impacts businesses, not residents.
A Shelter-in-Place Order also remains in effect for about 35,000 people in South Salinas. This includes South of S. Alisal St. to Spreckels Ave and East of Main St. and Highway 68 to Hartnell Road.
City officials said Lincoln Elementary, Monterey Park Elementary, Los Padres Elementary and Sherwood Elementary would also be closed Thursday. Students at those schools were already scheduled to be out of class because of spring break.
The City of Salinas and the fire department have scheduled a news conference for later this morning.