Officials with the Patrick Cudahy meat processing plant near Milwaukee say they are finally ready to rebuild parts of their facility that were damaged in a large fire in 2009.
Smithfield Foods Inc. CEO Larry Pope, who's company owns Patrick Cudahy, said crews will be ready to start the project in April. He says insurance claims have been settled for over $200 million.
The July 5, 2009 blaze is often called the largest structure fire in Wisconsin history. The fire fighting effort included 130 firefighters from 27 departments. Another 75 law enforcement officers were on patrol in the city.
The fire started when two adult brothers shot a military flare at a family gathering that landed on the roof of the factory. The criminal complaint says neither of the men saw where the flare landed, and neither came forward even after investigators disclosed that a military flare had caused the fire. Both men later plead guilty to the crimes and served jail time and community service for their actions.
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