Fire destroys Farm to Market Pork feed mill

A longtime West Valley business was the site of a fire Thursday evening.

Farm to Market Pork and Beef lost a feed mill when a spark from construction activities started the blaze.

Ken Braaten, one of the owners, said no people or livestock were injured.

“We’re open for business and it won’t affect anything,” Braaten said. “The new feed equipment is on the way and the animals will still be fed.”

West Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which is located near the business, was on the scene in a few minutes after the call came in at 5:43 p.m.

Chief Russell Sappington said he had about 25 firefighters on scene.

“We got it knocked down quickly and no one got hurt,” Sappington said.

He said it appeared some welding had been done on a feed tube, which may have caused a spark that smoldered before the fire began. The mill was where grain feed and minerals are mixed.

Smith Valley and South Kalispell fire departments were on standby, but didn’t have to come because the fire was put out so quickly.

Farm to Market Pork and Beef has been in business since 1974.