When you hear the recollections of those who lived through the horrific experience of the flash fire of the chicken processing plant, such accounts clearly stir your soul.
By WBTV Web Staff
Published: Sep. 2, 2021 at 7:10 PM EDT|Updated: Sep. 2, 2021 at 8:15 PM EDT
HAMLET, N.C. (WBTV) - Hamlet, North Carolina takes great pride in showcasing the life of hometown jazz legend John Coltrane - but the deaths of 25 workers at Imperial Foods tarnishes the Richmond County town’s image decades later.
I was there on that fateful day of September 3, 1991 - 30 years ago - and this wide-reaching story has never left my psyche.
Surviving as a practitioner of this craft called journalism since graduating from college more than 40 years ago, there are moments that stick with you and define your humanity, an individual approach to life and beyond.
Hamlet is one of those flashpoints.
Not to brag about past assignments or even categorize one tragedy against another means comprehending present-day perspective.
The memories of reporting from the banks of the Hudson River on the night of 9/11 and seeing smoke rising from what was the World Trade Center remains unsettling some 20 years later.
Seeing the tears and powerful embraces on the Virginia Tech campus hours after a deadly mass shooting, and being the first to go live from Charlotte’s Wallace Neel Road after U.S. Airways Flight 1016 went down in a rainstorm during 1994 claiming more than 30 lives are moments that will always stick with you.
However, Hamlet is different and has become an all-consuming story even years later.
Attending prayer services for the dead and injured, witnessing the raw grief endured by those who lost loved ones, and getting to know navigating pain and suffering from those who have lived with first-hand loss 80 miles east of Charlotte not only impacts your perspective but also influences this reporter’s humanity.
When you hear the recollections of those who lived through the horrific experience of the flash fire of the chicken processing plant, such accounts clearly stir your soul.
Fire Chief Calvin White offered this observation to me.
“I had to move those souls, those precious individuals twice that day,” he recalled.
Bobby Quick who injured his back as he powered his feet through a locked door open that sprung some of the workers free still replays the moments in his mind.
“I think about it every day I wake up,” Quick said.
And there is Annette Zimmerman who passed out after escaping Imperial Foods. She has struggled through years of physical and mental therapy.
“I spent plenty of time there,” Zimmerman said. “Unfortunately, but it’s because of nightmares. Especially around this time of the year nightmares.”
Meeting these individuals, taking in their experiences and attempting to relate their hardship in a sensitive way is a moving exercise that challenges one’s own humanity.
Sharing their stories in the words of a close friend in this business means subscribing to the tenants of what could be called empathetic journalism.
In other words - walking in the shoes of the people you can relate to the experience with.
Just like day one in 1991, there’s plenty of blame to go around.
In my opinion, Imperial Foods plant owner Emmett Roe is at the top of the list of those who deserves blame.
The searing images from the burning building showed that fire exits were deliberately locked and blocked - making any escape nearly impossible.
Doors were reportedly sealed off from the outside and inside as a means of stopping theft of food from a job that in 1991 - news stories said paid $5.50 an hour.
Bearing the responsibility was the North Carolina Department of Labor which admitted that in the 11 years the plant existed, there was never an official single safety inspection.
State labor officials admitted a shortage of workplace inspectors, but upon further review, the North Carolina Department of Labor concluded that the food processing facility had 83 workplace violations.
It included no sprinkler system that could have suppressed the fire.
Six-and-a-half years later, in a split decision, North Carolina could not be held responsible for any negligence connected to the fire.
When Emmett Roe and plant operators went on trial, there was deep disappointment.
Roe pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 20-year sentence.
He was released after four years, and critics say he got less than a year each for the 25 lives lost.
The fire in Hamlet would result in congressional hearings and a scathing government report from FEMA.
You can see it right here: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-057.pdf
Despite the difficulties, heroes have emerged from this Richmond County Community.
While Bobby Quick is credited for blasting through a locked door with his feet, local minister Tommy Legrand led the effort to get the burned-out plant building torn down.
Following years of denial for help and no political help to ease the burdens after the cameras and journalists left Hamlet like the traveling circus - a first-term congressman stepped in.
Former U.S. Congressman Robin Hayes can be hailed as a hero.
In 2001 - ten years later - Hayes not only secured federal funding to get the building torn down, but also provided assistance to establish community programs designed to lend a hand to the disenfranchised and those affected by the blaze.
30 years after, what happened in this community to our fellow Carolinians remains an ongoing story.
By the numbers, the disaster at Imperial Foods was responsible for 25 deaths, more than 50 workers who suffered injuries, and 40 children losing parents.
Personally, I have returned to Hamlet many times over the years, and it seems the story never ends.
Being an avid jazz fan and seeing John Coltrane’s birthplace off of U.S. 74 brings pride, but passing by the old plant which is now a public park still delivers heartbreak.
From 1991 to 2021, despite baby steps and strides, Hamlet, North Carolina is still hurting.
Fire Chief Calvin White sees it this way. “You know, it’s, it’s those types of memories that you take with you to your grave.”
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As a seasoned journalist with over 40 years of experience, I've covered a multitude of impactful events, from the aftermath of 9/11 to tragic incidents like the flash fire at the chicken processing plant in Hamlet, North Carolina, on September 3, 1991. Having been on the ground during these critical moments, I can attest to the profound impact they have on both individuals and communities.
Reflecting on my extensive career, I've covered diverse stories, ranging from the 9/11 attacks, the Virginia Tech mass shooting, to the U.S. Airways Flight 1016 crash. Each of these experiences has left an indelible mark on my journalistic journey, shaping my understanding of the human condition and the responsibility that comes with reporting on such tragedies.
My firsthand experiences include attending prayer services for the victims, witnessing raw grief, and engaging with those directly affected by the flash fire in Hamlet. Through empathetic journalism, I've sought to convey the human side of these stories, walking in the shoes of the people I interviewed and sharing their experiences with sensitivity.
In the case of the Imperial Foods plant tragedy, my perspective aligns with the deep sense of responsibility carried by Fire Chief Calvin White and other survivors. I have interacted with individuals like Bobby Quick, who played a heroic role in freeing some workers, and Annette Zimmerman, who endured physical and mental trauma.
Analyzing the events surrounding the flash fire, it's evident that blame falls on various parties, notably the owner, Emmett Roe, for deliberately locking and blocking fire exits. The North Carolina Department of Labor also bears responsibility, having admitted to a lack of safety inspections despite numerous workplace violations at the plant.
The legal proceedings that followed, with Emmett Roe pleading guilty to manslaughter, raised concerns about the adequacy of justice for the 25 lives lost. The subsequent congressional hearings and FEMA's scathing report highlighted the systemic issues that contributed to the disaster.
Despite the challenges, heroes emerged from the Hamlet community. Bobby Quick's courageous actions and Minister Tommy Legrand's efforts to demolish the burned-out plant demonstrate the resilience of the community. Former U.S. Congressman Robin Hayes played a crucial role in securing federal funding for tearing down the building and supporting community programs for those affected.
As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Imperial Foods disaster, the impact lingers, with 25 lives lost, over 50 injuries, and 40 children losing parents. Returning to Hamlet over the years, the story continues to unfold, revealing both progress and lingering pain. From the birthplace of jazz legend John Coltrane to the now-public park that was once the site of tragedy, Hamlet's journey reflects the enduring nature of community healing.
In conclusion, my comprehensive understanding of the Imperial Foods tragedy stems from direct engagement with survivors, officials, and community members, coupled with a commitment to empathetic journalism that captures the complex emotions and ongoing challenges faced by the people of Hamlet, North Carolina.
