Fire at Iowa meat processing plant leaves hundreds out of work
An Agri Star employee who was at the Postville meat processing plant when Tuesday’s fire began says the day started like any other workday — until the smell of smoke became impossible to ignore, KCRG reports.
The fire destroyed about 75% of the Agri Star facility, according to Postville Fire Chief Jeffrey Bohr, leaving more than 600 workers without jobs. Officials say the fire was accidental and started in the plant’s laundry room. No injuries were reported.
Cody Loera, an inventory specialist at Agri Star, said he initially didn’t realize anything was wrong.
“I just came in for a normal day of work. I could smell something, but sometimes people burn food in the locker room or break room so I didn’t think much of it. There were some other people outside so I just grabbed my food and went on my way,” Loera said.
Loera said he wasn’t working in the part of the plant where the fire started, but everyone in his area evacuated safely.
Now, like hundreds of his coworkers, he is waiting to learn what comes next.
“Just waiting to see to hear what’s going to happen. See if they have news on when they’ll get the fire out and what we’re supposed to do from there,” Loera said.
Bohr said firefighters were dispatched to a fire in the facility’s laundry room early Tuesday morning. As crews worked to contain the blaze, a hot water line burst, creating even more dangerous conditions inside the building.
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He said firefighters were forced to evacuate moments before part of the structure collapsed.
“When we felt that the temperature got to 14-1500 degrees on the ceiling down there, it was time to get out. We got out just in time before one of the floors collapsed,” said Bohr.
While some portions of the building remain standing, he said significant infrastructure will have to be rebuilt.
“There are portions that can be saved. Unfortunately the hot water making system, stuff like that has to start from scratch,” said Bohr.
Meanwhile, community organizations and IowaWORKS have mobilized to help displaced employees with unemployment assistance, food resources and other immediate needs as the town begins recovering from one of the largest fires in its recent history.
