Ky. governor, ag chief review damage from Lexington stockyards fire; investigation continues
Gov. Matt Bevin and state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles surveyed damage Monday at the Blue Grass Stockyards on Lisle Industrial Avenue in Lexington.
The stockyards were destroyed Saturday in a spectacular fire, and several nearby businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged. The visit Monday coincided with continued efforts to determine the cause. Investigators from the Lexington Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives picked through building remains on the site.
Bevin and Quarles got an update from Lexington fire and other officials.
“Out of this tragedy, there are stories of people working together,” Bevin said. “This is a chance to put our best foot forward, ... to show how we respond to this kind of tragedy.”
Quarles said the loss of the Lexington stockyard is a “bump in the road” for the cattle industry in part because the Blue Grass Stockyards have other properties operating normally outside of Lexington. Its other stockyard sites include Mount Sterling and Stanford.
The stockyards representatives said they were undecided about rebuilding in the place where the company has been for about 79 years.
Janet Patton: 859-231-3264, @janetpattonhl
This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Ky. governor, ag chief review damage from Lexington stockyards fire; investigation continues."