An exhaust vent caught fire Saturday morning at the Cargill meat-processing plant in the Jobs Industrial Park in southeast Albert Lea.

Cargill employees evacuated the building and waited in the parking lot out front.The fire started at about 9:30 a.m. in an exhaust vent over a fryer and then spread to some roofing materials. Smoke briefly drifted from the roof, but employees used fire extinguishers to quickly put out the fire.

The fire was out before the Albert Lea Fire Department reached the scene, but crews inspected the building to make sure the fire was out.

Capt. Lee DeVries said it was essentially a chimney fire.

Firefighters were packing the hoses on the trucks by 10:02 a.m.

The plant, 702 E. 13th St., produces meats under the Schweigert brand name.