(Le Mars) — Le Mars and Merrill Fire Departments along with the Le Mars Ambulance responded to Nor-Am cold storage facilities on the west side of town Thursday afternoon shortly before 3:30 p.m. for a reported fire. Upon arrival, fire fighters encountered a room full of smoke. Nor-Am employees had evacuated the premises. The cause of the small fire was a battery that is used to power and operate many of the conveyor belts had ignited causing not only the smoke, but also a foul odor. Fire officials and Nor-Am employees were able to remove the battery by placing it in a metal cabinet and hauling it outside. Fire officials then began ventilating the plant. Within a few minutes, the employees were allowed to return to their work stations.
