Fire At Monfort Beef
Plant Reduces Output

CACTUS, Texas — A fire at the Monfort Inc. beef packing plant here slowed production early this week.

An early morning fire Sunday shut down the A slaughter shift. Plant managers notified workers on the A shift of the slaughter line not to report to work on Monday.

Initially, a plant spokesman had said the slaughter and fabrication A and B shifts would be shut down. By 7 a.m. Monday, company spokesmen said that only the slaughter A shift would be affected.

Maintenance workers reported smoke filling an upstairs hallway about 2 a.m. Sunday. Their efforts to extinguish the fire were hampered by the proximity of several motor control centers.

Company representatives said the fire was contained by the time firefighters from the Cactus and Dumas fire departments arrived.

Officials said Monday morning they are investigating the cause of the blaze and no damage estimate is available. They said, however, that extensive cleanup efforts will be required to return the plant to full production.

No injuries were reported in the packing plant fire.