Fire damage put in millions at Kan. packing plant

The damage from last week’s fire at a south-central Kansas packing plant is estimated in the millions of dollars.

Doug Mackay, director of human resources at Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, shared the estimate Thursday with members of the Arkansas (ar-KAN’-zuhs) City Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Arkansas City Traveler reports ( http://bit.ly/1hohCvj) Creekstone is insured for such massive damage and is working with insurance adjusters on a more precise estimate.

The fire broke out the afternoon of Sept. 25 in the plant’s fabrication area. The cause is still being determined, but investigators have traced it to a conveyor belt.

Mackay said hundreds of contract workers are tackling the cleanup. Creekstone officials hope to bring production up to 80 percent within a week.

Creekstone processes Black Angus beef at the plant.

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Information from: The Arkansas City (Kan.) Traveler, http://www.arkcity.net