Big Blaze Could they have been an ARA target? They certainly were a target.


Massive WI blaze guts meat-packing plant (Madison Capital Times)‏

Sent: July 16, 2009 2:06:47 PM



NOTE: Though there has not yet been any indication of animal rights
involvement, Smithfield Foods Inc. has long been a target of
activists.

Madison Capital Times (WI)
Military flare caused Cudahy meatpacking plant fire
Associated Press
7/15/2009
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/458396

CUDAHY -- Police in southeastern Wisconsin say a fire that gutted part
of a meatpacking plant last week started when a military flare landed
on the roof.

Cudahy police said Tuesday there's no indication it was the military
that fired the flare.

The flare ignited the Patrick Cudahy Inc. plant on the night of July
5. The massive blaze lasted more than two days and caused an estimated
$50 million or more in damages.

There's a $16,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of those responsible.

The reward is being funded by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives; the Wisconsin Arson Insurance Counsel; and
Southern Milwaukee County Crime Stoppers.

Cudahy is a town of about 18,000 just south of downtown Milwaukee.

Smithfield Foods says the fire at the plant in the Milwaukee area
should not have a material negative effect on its business in fiscal
2010.

The nation's largest hog producer and pork processor made those
comments in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
Tuesday.

The Smithfield, Va.-based company says it's making that statement
based on expected insurance, potential losses and impact on Patrick
Cudahy brands -- which are worth about $450 million in annual revenue.

The company says it's still analyzing damage from the fire, which
started July 5. It will give additional details in September during
its quarterly results.

Some production has resumed in the plant, while other production has
been shifted elsewhere.

2 brothers in their early 20's have been arrested. One has 2 tours in Iraq and a Purple Heart. They were blowing off illegal fireworks, including the military flare that started the fire, at their mother's house over the July 4th weekend. No malice intended but a tragic mistake ending in $ 50 MILLION in damages. Will be interesting to see how this evolves.

The suspicions were that such an incident could have been ARA driven considering past actions. Kinda glad to hear it was accidental as at least ,there was no malicious intent. Feel bad for the brothers and their families though as this will be no walk in the park for them.