A multi-million-dollar fire which tore through a large abattoir east of Adelaide has finally been extinguished more than a week after it started.
The blaze began from a welding spark on January 3 at the Thomas Foods International facility at Murray Bridge, and damaged the plant's boning rooms and storage facilities before being brought under control.
It continued to burn for the past week in the basement of the four-storey building, with firefighters hampered by poor access and unstable walls.
At the height of the fire, 100 firefighters battled the blaze and part of the plant's roof collapsed.
The damage bill is expected to run into tens of millions of dollars.
The plant has a workforce of around 1400, with the company the third largest meat processor in the country and the region's largest employer.
The company said previously that some workers would be temporarily moved to other facilities in the Adelaide Hills and Tamworth in NSW.
Workers employed on 417-holiday working visas have been let go.
The state government has set up a taskforce to ensure a coordinated and rapid response to the fire and rebuild.
