LEWISTON, NC. — Perdue Farms confirmed that a carbon dioxide pipe burst at the company’s Lewiston, NC, plant on May 23, causing employees to evacuate the facility.

“Our Lewiston plant was briefly evacuated after a pipe was compromised,” a spokesperson from Perdue told MEAT+POULTRY. “The evacuation was conducted in line with our safety protocols, and operations resumed once the area was confirmed safe.”

First responders arrived on the scene after initial calls to the Bertie County Communications Center reported what was believed at the time to be gun shots, according to a Facebook post from the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office. However, after investigating, the sheriff’s office confirmed that the noise was due to a burst pipe and not a firearm.