(AP) Dodge City –Fire erupted inside the Cargill meatpacking plant near Dodge City Monday night, and kept firefighters busy for more than five hours.

Capt. Mark Elder with the Dodge City Fire Department told KAKE News the fire began around 9:00 p.m. in the kill floor area. Because the complex is so large, crews spent several hours trying to put out all the hot spots.

The plant was evacuated, according to fire department officials. The cause of the fire is still not known, and there were no injuries, according to the company.

Cargill’s beef plant, which had been scheduled to be shuttered on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Christmas holidays, is expected to remain closed for the rest of the week as damage is assessed and fire inspectors investigate what started the blaze.

The Cargill plant is located about two miles west of the Dodge City limits. A spokesman for Ford County Fire/EMS told KAKE News the fire may started from a heater.

Cargill has yet to release a statement about how the fire will affect production. The company’s website says the Dodge City plant employs more than 2,700 people, making it the city’s second-largest employer. It is the largest Cargill beef plant.

Cargill announced plans in late August to spend $48 million on a new automated system at the Dodge City plant. The goal was to increase capacity sixfold.