Agri Star Intends to Rebuild After Catastrophic Fire

Agri Star has officially announced its plans to rebuild its Postville, Iowa plant less than a week after a fire destroyed approximately 75 percent of the facility, stating they are working with local, state, and federal agencies to restore operations while preserving jobs and community relationships.

“We are actively working alongside local, state and federal agencies to thoughtfully develop a plan for rebuilding our facility and restoring operations. While there is still much work ahead, we are approaching this process with determination and optimism,” the company stated on their Facebook page.

The Postville facility processed 0.73 million pounds of poultry weekly and specializes in kosher foods. Fire officials said the fire started in a clothes dryer in a laundry room in the plant. 19 fire departments responded, and crews used more than three million gallons of water to fight the blaze. Luckily, no injuries were reported from the fire. However, the fire has left more than 600 workers without jobs as community members are organizing relief efforts.

Agri Star has actively praised the Postville Community for the support that has been offered following the fire stating, “This community has stood beside us during an incredibly difficult moment and for that we are sincerely grateful.” They also stated, “We will continue to provide updates as our plans progress and look forward to (once again) serving our valued customers and contributing to the community that has supported us so faithfully.”