Hamlet chicken processing plant fire
The Hamlet chicken processing plant fire was an industrial accident. It occurred on September 3, 1991 at the Imperial Foods Chicken Processing Plant in Hamlet, North Carolina, United States. In the center of the plant, a hydraulic line failed and ignited the cooking oil in a
Hamlet Chicken Processing Plant Fire Media
A view of the plant from front and side, taken shortly after the fire
The remains of the failed hydraulic line
A view of the fryer where the fire started
Footprints on the north breakroom door. A worker kicked open the door during the fire so he and his coworkers could escape.
Floor plan of the factory showing the locations of the origin of the fire and of the killed and injured
A view of the plant taken from a ladder across the street, showing a collapsed section of roof directly above the origin of the fire. Photo taken from the Fire Administration report
North Carolina Governor James G. Martin (pictured) proposed funds to hire more safety inspectors, the creation of a state fire inspections team, the establishment of a safety violation helpline, and the cross-training of USDA workers so that they could report safety problems.
Piping at the former Imperial Food Products site in 2022. The site was cleared in 2002.
Fire memorial at the former plant site
25 feet (7.6 m) long frying vat. An automatic fire extinguisher, which was state of the art at the time, had been installed over the cooking vat, but it failed to put the fire out. The fire spread quickly and many workers were unable to escape due to locked fire exits. 25 workers died and 54 were injured in the fire. The plant never reopened and was demolished in 2001. The owner of the facility pled guilty to 25 counts of manslaughter, and was sentenced to almost 20 years in prison. He was paroled after four years. The fire was the worst industrial accident in North Carolina's history and led to new safety requirements for industrial facilities in the United States.