House of Raeford loses processing plant to fire

House of Raeford Farms has lost much of its Maxton, N.C., chicken-processing plant to fire, according to local television station WTVD-TV.
No one was injured in the fire, and the cause has not yet been determined. The plant produced processed chicken products such as patties and sausages and was in the company’s mechanically separated chicken division.
Damage to the plant was estimated at $1.25 million, and about $750,000 worth of contents were lost, according to local news reports.
Local reports quoted a company spokesperson saying the company will know in the coming weeks if it will open a new facility in Scotland County. Indications were that the decision would be based on insurance pay-out and other economic factors.