Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, Arkansas City, Kan., assured customers that last week’s fire at their packing plant, which had temporarily shut down the facility, will not halt product shipments.

Since Sept. 26, Creekstone Farms has been working around the clock to fulfill customer orders and get shipments out the door. Their contingency plan, executed in the wake of the fire, will ensure the Premium Black Angus Beef provider has product available until the plant is fully operational. The company resumed full shipping operations on Sept. 29.

The fire, which occurred late afternoon on Sept. 25, caused the full evacuation and closing of the Creekstone plant and some corporate offices, however no employees were injured. The local fire officials were able to extinguish the blaze and repairs have already begun. Employees continued to receive pay during the production interruption.

“We are extremely grateful by the outpouring of support from all our customers, staff and the community in the face of this unfortunate incident,” says Dennis Buhlke, president and CEO. “In the end, we are thankful none of our employees were harmed, and we will work hard to re-open the damaged portion of the plant as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Though the majority of the plant is fully functional, Creekstone Farms anticipates the entire plant to be fully operational as early as Oct. 14.