5 a.m Thursday   (AP) — Most employees at the Creekstone Farms packing plant in Arkansas City have a day off after a fire at the plant.

Only management, shipping and maintenance employees will work at the plant Thursday.

Fire Chief Bobby Wolfe says the fire Wednesday afternoon began on a conveyor belt but it’s not known what started the blaze.

A firefighter was treated and released at a hospital after being exposed to ammonia fumes. No one else was injured.

Creekstone Farms processes beef at the plant about 45 miles southeast of Wichita.

 

(AP) — A south-central Kansas packing plant has been damaged by a fire that started on a conveyor belt.

The smoky blaze at Creekstone Farms Premium Beef was reported at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday. Crews from Arkansas City and Winfield took about an hour to bring it under control.

No injuries were reported, but Fire Chief Bobby Wolfe said one firefighter was checked for exposure to ammonia.

The fire broke out in a shipping and storage area. Wolfe says it’s not known what ignited the conveyor belt.

Creekstone’s human resources manager said production would be shut down Thursday in the fabrication, slaughter and ground beef operations areas.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef processes Black Angus beef at the plant about 45 miles southeast of Wichita.