Uncertainty for Workers at Burned St. Francis County Plant
By: Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News
Updated: October 1, 2012
Dozens of people in the St. Francis County town of Colt are now left wondering where their next paycheck will come from after a massive fire destroyed the largest single employer in the city.
On Monday, some Colt residents stopped by the smoldering remains of the K-Tops Plastics plant - what was once a symbol of the small community. The fire still hadn't been completely put out, but was knocked down greatly compared to what happened Saturday night.
Firefighters say they were called to the facility about 8:00 that night, but they could save only the offices. The fire burned so hot, it twisted metal and collapsed the roof.
"The black smoke was so thick it overwhelmed the town," said nearby business owner Bennie Hollowell.
Hollowell feared for his own place at first. Now, he worries for the workers peeling back layers of debris, dousing hot spots.
The facility made baby furniture and toys. Air quality monitors so far haven't registered unsafe levels, though some are still uneasy. The area was cordoned off Monday, as the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Employees are unsure whether to file unemployment, or simply look for other work. The K-Tops plant is the only one of its kind in the country, so they can't transfer elsewhere. With few opportunities rolling through town, these lost jobs pulling at heart strings, but those who live there have no doubt the town will persevere.
"We just roll up our sleeves, pull up our bootstraps and keep doing what we doing," said former K-Tops employee Author Witherspoon.
Another fire at a plant in a nearby town this time last year also robbed the community of jobs. We are told no one was inside so luckily, no one was hurt.
On Monday, some Colt residents stopped by the smoldering remains of the K-Tops Plastics plant - what was once a symbol of the small community. The fire still hadn't been completely put out, but was knocked down greatly compared to what happened Saturday night.
Firefighters say they were called to the facility about 8:00 that night, but they could save only the offices. The fire burned so hot, it twisted metal and collapsed the roof.
"The black smoke was so thick it overwhelmed the town," said nearby business owner Bennie Hollowell.
Hollowell feared for his own place at first. Now, he worries for the workers peeling back layers of debris, dousing hot spots.
The facility made baby furniture and toys. Air quality monitors so far haven't registered unsafe levels, though some are still uneasy. The area was cordoned off Monday, as the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Employees are unsure whether to file unemployment, or simply look for other work. The K-Tops plant is the only one of its kind in the country, so they can't transfer elsewhere. With few opportunities rolling through town, these lost jobs pulling at heart strings, but those who live there have no doubt the town will persevere.
"We just roll up our sleeves, pull up our bootstraps and keep doing what we doing," said former K-Tops employee Author Witherspoon.
Another fire at a plant in a nearby town this time last year also robbed the community of jobs. We are told no one was inside so luckily, no one was hurt.
