The company began receiving cattle on Oct. 20, and restarted cattle harvesting the next day. Beef production will begin Oct. 23.
The fire started Sept. 25 on a conveyor belt. Firefighters were able to control the blaze, but high ammonia levels inside the plant made it difficult to investigate the cause of the fire. Fire crews remained outside the building to allow ammonia and natural gas to ventilate.
Ground beef and shipping operations were briefly interrupted, the company said. But both activities resumed within a week after the fire. Creekstone Farms continued supplying customers with Black Angus beef products during the closure through co-pack arrangements with third-party packers.
“To be back up and running one month after the fire is remarkable and would not be possible without the hard-work and dedication of all our employees,” commented Dennis Buhlke, president and CEO of Creekstone Farms Premium Beef.
