Sonnen Meats undecided following devastating fire

The owner of Sonnen Meats processing plant near Greencreek said Thursday it’s too soon to determine whether the business will be able to rebuild following a devastating fire that destroyed the plant Aug. 31.

Norm Sonnen, whose grandfather, Ben Sonnen, built the popular meat processing plant in 1964, said there are currently too many unknowns for him to decide whether he will replace the business.

“There’s just a lot of stuff going on right now and we can’t comment,” on the future of the business, Sonnen said.

The fire was detected at 3:14 a.m. Aug. 31 and by the time firefighters from around the region arrived on the scene, the business was totally engulfed in flames. All of the inventory was demolished, including carcasses and meat packages of 4-H animals that had recently been bought at the Idaho County Fair.

Although the fire happened just one week after the fair, Sonnen said Thursday most of the animals had already been processed and no live animals were killed.

“I did have some hogs from the fair that we didn’t have room to get into the cooler,” Sonnen said. “They were out back and we didn’t lose any of those to the fire and we saved them.”

So far, the origin of the fire has not yet been determined. The Idaho State fire marshal in Coeur d’Alene did not immediately return a call Thursday from the Lewiston Tribune about the investigation.

A fundraiser to help support the Sonnens is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at 318 Sonnen Road, about 2 miles northeast of Greencreek. The event, sponsored by American Freedom Defense, LLC, includes a raffle, gun demonstrations, a gun swap, a live auction and a pork barbecue. A dance, sponsored by St. Mary’s Health, will follow at the Greencreek Community Hall at 6 p.m. Cost is $15 for the dance alone or $50 for dinner and the dance.

Sonnen said after his grandfather ran the business, his father, Vern, and uncle, Ed Sonnen, took over. Norm Sonnen and his wife, Julie, bought the business in 1999.

Since the fire, Sonnen said he and his wife have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from the community.

“It’s just been incredible,” he said. “It’s just hard knowing I won’t be able to help people fill their freezers for the coming winter. We’re just putting our faith in God right now. He’s got a plan and someday we’ll be able to look back and say it happened for a reason.”

Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com.