Published: May 14, 2008 10:55 pm            

Cause of Beaulieu fire undetermined

Beaulieu of America officials are hopeful that fire damage to a Dalton plant can be repaired quickly to have “the whole plant back to full production as soon as possible.”

The fire broke out at the Memofil Plant 20 on Fifth Avenue in Dalton shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday. All of the approximate 300 employees in the plant were safely evacuated. No one was injured. Dalton Fire Department officials had not determined the cause of the fire as of Wednesday afternoon.

“This was very unfortunate, but could have been disastrous; and we are thankful no one was injured during the fire or the evacuation,” Beaulieu chief executive officer Ralph Boe said in a press release. “We take safety very seriously at Beaulieu and are concerned about the well-being of all our associates. We feel the attention given to safe conscious practices in emergencies certainly helped in avoiding a catastrophe. Equipment can be replaced, but lives cannot.”

Boe said the fire was contained to one section of the plant, but the extent of damage was not yet known.

“Employees at the plant acted quickly to the emergency, notifying all others to evacuate and alerting the Dalton Fire Department, who responded immediately,” Boe said.”

The larger section of the plant was intact and production resumed Tuesday night. Boe said alternate supply arrangements are under way for production in the affected section. Employees assigned to this part of the facility will be transferred to another in-town site or will help in the cleanup.

        

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