The Imperial Food Products Fire Memorial
On September 3, 1991, an explosion and industrial fire in this chicken processing plant in Hamlet North Carolina killed 25 workers and injured 54 others. Despite three previous fires, the plant had never had a safety inspection in its 11 years of operation. Many of the dead and injured workers were trapped behind locked doors, including a fire exit. The fire raised awareness of industrial safety and, for a time in the 1990s, was a catalyst for efforts to organize Southern workers.
Details on the LHF Labor Landmarks Map.
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