Imperial Sugar Refinery Fire

Update 8-22-08
The 14th victim has died at the Augusta Burn Center, 6 months after the explosion. Malcolm Frazier, 46, died at 12:50AM this morning.

Update 7-29-08
Today, Imperial Sugar testified before Congress about the recent release of the findings that OSHA found at the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, GA. VP of Operations, Graham H. Graham said, "I visited the Port Wentworth plant two weeks prior to the Port Wentworth explosion. Housekeeping efforts were improved and in my opinion they couldn't have been any worse," he said during his testimony. "Port Wentworth safety coordinators had identified 400 safety violations since December. During the meeting I congratulated the management team on their efforts however there was still a long way to go."
CEO John Sheptor replied to this testimony, saying that his communication with Graham implied that the safety measures taken at the refinery were very significant.

Update 7-25-08 12:11PM
OSHA has fined the Imperial Sugar Refinery nearly 9 million, 5 million for the Port Wentworth Plant and 4 more for the Louisiana Plant. Of those violations, 61 were egregious violations, eight were willful, and 51 were serious violations. They say Imperial Sugar should have cleaned the plant and that the accident could have been avoided. This is the third largest fine that OSHA has ever issued. Imperial Sugar will fight the allegations.

Update April 18

CEO John Sheptor announced today that he is indeed planning on rebuilding the damaged section on the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth. Sheptor says that it will be one of the most modern sugar refinery facilities in the country. It is expected to be complete by next summer.




Update March 17
One more victim has died at the Augusta Burn Center. The name will not be released for personal reasons. The death toll now stands at 13.


Update Feb. 26
News Channel 15 has just learned that another victim has been claimed by the sugar refinery fire. The death count stands at 12. 12 other people remain in critical condition at the Joseph M Still Burn Center in Augusta.



Update Feb. 24

The eleventh person has died as a result of the Imperial Sugar Refinery Fire. The name of the victim has not been released at this time. 14 people remain at the hospital.



Update Feb. 20
120 people have returned to work at the Imperial Sugar Refinery after the explosion last Thursday. Nearly 100 trucks full of sugar are now en route to stores that carry Dixie Crystal Sugar Products.




Last Update

1:00AM on February 8, 2008


PORT WENTWORTH, GA (WTOC) - The Savannah Fire Department is reporting that there has been an explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery.


Police from the command center estimate about 40 or more people taken to hospitals, likely more who may have lesser injuries. Between eight and ten patients have been airlifted to the Augusta Burn Center and burn specialists are being brought in to Memorial from Augusta to help treat patients.

The fire at the plant is still burning and there are also crews from the river, tugs and Coast Guard are helping to fight the fire from the water.

A portion of the Savannah River remains shut down as well as the Port of Savannah. Many container ships are backed up not able to come into port.

WTOC has also confirmed there has been a partial collapse of the building.

John Sheptor, president and CEO of Imperial Sugar spoke at a news conference around 11:15pm.

"I was coincidently in the refinery for employee meetings at the time of the explosion," Sheptor said. "We certainly are concerned about the employees and the families and are trying to provide what information as we can."

"The emergency response has been suburb," Sheptor added in the news conference. "Our people have been well treated and well cared for during the incident. Thank you for your concerns and I ask for your prayers and thoughts for everyone involved in this incident."

Firefighters are being sent in to the refinery about four at a time looking for people who may be still trapped inside. Captain Matt Stanley with Savannah Fire says they believe nine people are inside the building who are unaccounted for. At least three have been rescued from inside the building, but their injuries are uknown at this time, but the last person who was rescued did walk out on his own.

Port Wentoworth elementary school will be closed tomorrow.

The Coast Guard closed access to the river from the Talmadge Bridge to the Hoolahan Bridge to all vessel traffic as helicopters and boat crews searched for anyone in the water. Officials say they have not found anyone so far.

The Red Cross says additional Emergency Response Vehicles are being sent to Memorial to canteen families and emergency workers. The say Mental Health workers are also being sent to both locations.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• News
• Channel
• 15
• Imperial
• Sugar
• Refinery
• Fire
• Savannah
• Port
• Wentworth
• Georgia

[newschannel15]

Let me clarify some things up. I simply made a response to the comment that another person made. "The price of sugar went up." That does not mean the me and zzeroxxero do not care about the people at all. That's actually the opposite of the reality that some people believe. I care a lot about this tragedy. I know people whose husbands and grandparents and neighbors were killed because of this tragic event. This is my community that I live in. Everything that happens affects me greatly.

[levine1956]

I think it is sad that someone has to attack a 15 year old kid who is simply trying to inform kids his own age on breaking news stories. Keep up the good work kid!

[newschannel15]

Thank you. I really appreciate your understanding.

[zzeroxxero]

There's such a long back order on sugar right now because of this. I had such a hard time trying to secure more than 2 containers of sugar at work. Prices have already gone up more than 4 dollars per bag from the other factories with a long list of backorders.

And today was the FIRST working day since the explosion too...

[newschannel15]

Wow. Are you serious? That's pretty unbelievable. I guess we should stock up somehow.

[zzeroxxero]

Well, I think unless you're running a factory, wholesale, redistribution, large bakery or restaurant... it shouldn't affect you too much. Each bag I was talking about is 50lbs per.

[newschannel15]

Ohhh.. got it. I was wondering because four more dollars for a small five pound bag is a lot.

[TheNateBlurr]

I remember this, my house shook..

[SSUDWD]

Please change Malcolm Frazier age. That is wrong. He was 46, but the news people got it wrong. Thanks.

[Fashow2007]

I had to have now school at portwentworth elementrey school because of that explosion.Everyone was talking about it when we were riding on the bus and during class.I thought the plant would not get on fire but how did it get on fire at that time?

[mrhappy4286]

hey dude u are a fag i know people that were there and u shouldnt be worried about sugar what if it was your family member man would you worry about sugar price 14 are still in critical and the toll was 9 dead so i dont think four dollars is worth the price of these peoples lives

[zzeroxxero]

It's sad that the people were hurt and dead, yes, but that's not my industry, nor am I capable to deal with it. However, sugar is in my business and something like this COULD be a potentially serious economic impact to this region of our country as well as many more workers and their corresponding lives.

To all our own, our own responsibilities that we must to attend to. Indirect as it may be, is still important.

[april271990]

Are you serious? I hope I am wrong about this.You sound like you are worried more about the price of sugar going up than the people that got hurt or even lost their lives. Sad.

[idea7man777]

here's a question: what does a massive sugar fire smell like?¿