Hamlet chicken processing plant fire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
The deep fryer in the Imperial Food Products plant where the fire started
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| Date | September 3, 1991 |
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| Time | Approximately 8:15 a.m. |
| Location | Hamlet, North Carolina, United States |
| Type | Industrial fire |
| Cause | Uncoupled hose leaking hydraulic fluid ignited by fryer, workers were trapped by locked doors |
| Deaths | 25 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 54 |
| Inquest | United States Fire Administration |
| Convicted | Emmett J. Roe, plant owner |
| Charges | 25 counts of involuntary manslaughter |
| Verdict | Plead guilty |
| Sentence | 19 years, 11 months (paroled after about 4 years) |
On September 3, 1991, a big fire happened at the Imperial Food Products chicken factory in Hamlet, North Carolina. This fire started because a pipe carrying fluid broke. This factory had caught fire three times before. But it was never checked for safety. Sadly, 25 people died and 54 were hurt. Many couldn't get out because doors were locked. It was one of the worst factory accidents in North Carolina's history.
What Caused the Fire?
The factory was owned by Emmett Roe. He bought the Hamlet factory in 1980 to make chicken products. His company had a bad safety history. This factory didn't even have a fire alarm or working fire sprinkler system.
In 1991, Mr. Roe had some outside doors locked. This included a door marked as a fire exit. This was against safety rules. Most workers didn't even know about it.
In September, workers tried to fix a leaking pipe. This pipe was connected to a conveyor belt. The belt moved chicken into a fryer. They used parts that were not meant for the pipe.
On September 3, around 8:15 AM, they turned on the conveyor belt. The pipe broke apart. It sprayed fluid all over the room. The hot fluid turned into a gas. The gas caught fire from the fryer's flame.
The fire spread very fast. It filled the factory with thick smoke. Telephone lines were also burned.
Rescue Efforts
There were 90 workers inside the factory. Some people got out through the front door. But many others could not leave. Their exits were locked or blocked.
Brad Roe, the owner's son, drove to the local fire station. He went for help because the phones were out. Firefighters arrived at 8:27 AM. They called for help from other fire departments. More than 100 emergency workers came to the scene.
They moved a delivery truck and a dumpster. This helped create new openings. One worker kicked through a locked door. He helped himself and others escape. Firefighters got the fire under control by 10:00 AM.
Of the people who died, 18 were women and 7 were men. One person was a delivery driver. The rest were factory workers.
What Happened After?
The factory closed forever after the fire. Imperial Food Products was fined a lot of money. They had to pay $808,150 for safety problems. The company then went out of business.
Many survivors had health problems for a long time. They had trouble breathing. Some had muscle injuries. Others had problems with their thinking.
Emmett Roe, the factory owner, was found responsible for the deaths. He was sent to prison. He served about four years there.
The state of North Carolina made new safety laws. They passed 14 new rules for worker safety. These included rules to protect workers who report problems. The number of safety inspectors also increased.
