Workers return to fire-damaged plant

OAKWOOD - Despite a fire that heavily damage part of the facility May 19, the Wayne Farms LLC Oakwood Further Processing Plant has partially reopened - meaning about 70 of the 285 people employed there are back on the job.

Mike Robach, vice president of Technical Services and Regulatory Affairs, says its too early to say when the rest of the poultry processing plant, located on Old Oakwood Road, will re-open.

"Well, right now, we're still undergoing damage assessment and we still have investigators over there," Robach said. "There was some fairly significant damage to the backside of the plant."

"Cooperation between local emergency response folks and our own team got things under control quickly, and we were able to work toward a partial reopening almost immediately," said Elton Maddox, President and CEO of Wayne Farms LLC.

A number of workers at the plant have been placed in other Wayne Farms facilities until the Oakwood plant is fully operational again.