By EJ Conzola

NYVT Media

WHITEHALL –

The Champlain Beef meat processing facility on U.S. Route 4 just south of the Village of Whitehall was badly damaged Saturday by a fire that forced the closure of the highway for about two hours.

No details about the blaze were immediately available, as representatives of the owners declined to comment and referred all questions to fire investigators, who were not immediately available.

The fire appeared to have started in the middle portion of the building and spread toward the rear, which appeared to have been completely gutted. Little fire damage was visible in the front portion of the building that could be seen from the road.

Multiple fire companies, including Whitehall, Dresden, Hampton, Hartford  and Kingsbury, as well as Fair Haven and Poultney in Vermont, were at the scene of the blaze, which was reported around 10:30 a.m.

Route 4 was closed between Whitehall and Comstock at 10:45 a.m. to permit firefighters to battle the blaze without worrying about traffic. The road reopened at about 12:15 p.m. for one alternating lane of traffic then was fully reopened 30 minutes later.

This is a breaking story. More information will be added as it becomes available.