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IP Explosion: Goal Is To Reopen Mill, Get Employees Back To Work
January 25, 2017
The International Paper mill in Cantonment sat idle Tuesday afternoon, an unfamiliar sight to locals with no steam rising from the plant. There is no production underway, with most of its hundreds of employees not at work. But Mill Manager Bretton Dejong said Tuesday that the company plans to put employees back to work as soon as possible.
“The company is committed to reestablishing operations at this facility,” Dejong said. “Exactly how long that will take is yet to be determined. We have staff coming from all over the company…experts that can help us step through this process safely and get our folks back to work where they need to be.”
“Our immediate goal is to get folks back to work, recognizing the work may be a little different than where they were before we started this incident,” he said. “We have a lot of needs as you can imagine tying to get the facility back into some semblance of cleanup, remediation on site, following up with the processes we need to put in place to reestablish safe operation.”
“With the expertise of our team members here, we couldn’t hire anyone better to help us do that. they know the place,” the mill manager continued. “They are going to be the ones to help us get our feet back under us.”
Dejong did not provide any timetable for bringing employees back to work or returning the mill to operation.
International Paper has set up a hotline for residents. Individuals with questions or concerns pertaining to Sunday night’s incident can contact the information hotline at (850) 968-4208. The number is available 24 hours a day until further notice.
Pictured top: The International Paper mill in Cantonment sits idle Tuesday afternoon, following a Sunday night explosion (below). NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
24 Responses to “IP Explosion: Goal Is To Reopen Mill, Get Employees Back To Work”
However long it is going to take, rather than risking the loss of income being delayed, you folks should go apply for SSI. You may not end up needing it, but if you do, you will be glad to started the process sooner rather than later.
To the person who commented about the taste of his water, you need to contact your water service provider. It is their responsibility to maintain and verify the safety and quality of your drinking water, regardless of the circumstances. Further, your water system cannot address an issue if they don’t know it exists. Please call them.
Get those folks back to work, and maybe they have learned something from this incident, you can’t be fearful for what may happen if they restart the plant, life is full of danger you won’t stop driving because it’s dangerous would you? I’m so thankful knowone was killed or injured! I also believe God showed mercy that day, and that it is HIS will that everyone that works in that plant will oneday be in heaven with HIM, but we do have a free-will and there is only one way to heaven and that is through HIS so Jesus Christ. Do you know HIM?
I’d hope the utility companies would have the same set of rules for all customers, responding to the first comment…….
I started working inside the Mill in 1989 not as a St. Regis employee, but part of a wonderful group. Went thru Champion and then International. Do you as the public know what this plant does for us and all over the world, do you know what your products that you use starts and comes from there? No! a lot of people think it is just a stinking place to drive by. I have live in the Woodbury area since 1999, I have no regrets, I myself do not understand why people don’t understand accidents. As I read it a lot of people want something for nothing. Shame on you and may I ask, are you out helping your friends and neighbors? We have! mt
I have a larger than usual family and being out of work would be a disaster for us. Hopefully the employees will be back to work soon. Soon enough that no one’s mortgage goes into foreclosure or their vehicle gets repossessed or their utilities turned off. Maybe the utility companies will make some exceptions for all those effected by this incident. Prayers for all of IP’s employees.
There is no doubt this is a terrible accident so lets do a thorough investigation, and find the cause, and make necessary repairs. The old Mill has been good to me. I began my career as a pipe-fitter in the Spring of 1951 at the age of 15 years. The contractor was Merritt, Chapman, and Scott from New York they were building Paper Machines #3 & #4, and other areas of the Mill. After returning from my tour in the Navy I was hired to work new construction & maintenance at the Mill during the years 1956, 1957 & 1958. Thanks to the many workers that became life time friends to me. Special thanks to Mr. Bill Northup, and Mr. Reese Morton for making tough decision in the Maintenance Department.
Grateful there were no injuries. I am a former IP maintenance mechanic who had the honor of coming to the Cantonment Mill to help after Hurricane Ivan. We were treated great by everyone even though the circumstances for the local people were so devastating. I have former friends and co-workers there and I know that all the employees there take pride in their mill. I hope and pray IP follows through with their promise and get our brothers and sisters back working ASAP. God Bless all of you and your City!!
What caused the failure? It seems that no one is asking this question and I don’t see the question in the media. It would only seems logical that this question is properly addressed before the plant tries attempts to return to operation.
Are they stock piling the logs and chips ? What happens with these folks? Just curious. Didn’t see many trucks on the road today. Whats the impact on that side of the coin ? TY
Praying for all the employees to have their jobs back as quick as possible and if there is anyway they can help with the rebuilding the plant to have a pay check coming in for there bills and living expenses. God bless each one of you and know that you are in my prayers.
i never worked at the paper mill but i remember going to work and you couldt see the highway because of ( smoke ) from the mill they have made a lot of differance since then no noe knows a process better than those who run in every day it makes sense to use the employees this would be a good time to make upgrades an changes someone made a statement about their water and stomach problems the water you drink proberly came from a well several hundred feet deep i dont think the explosion run off has gotten to the aqifier yet ( learned that from earth science and work )
Regarding water concerns. If your water comes from wells, no chance of contamination. If it comes from the river, guess it could be possible.
No one cares more about putting the plant back together properly than those who work there. They will work harder and faster too. A great idea to use their own employees!
Not sure if any of my woodbury neighbors have tasted there water but it I think it needs to be tested it tasted very different to me this morning and i have been having stomach pains never felt like this before. is anyone else having any issues?
I can remember many years ago when St..Regis paper warehouse caught fire.
burnt paper products were in our fields and pastures in Cottage Hill.
First of all, I am very thankful that no one was hurt or worse. As a former IP employee from the shutdown Courtland Mill I appreciate and agree with Mill Manager Dejong’s comments concerning the expert skills of the Cantonment Mill Employees. The Cantonment Employees are indeed experts at what they do and they are what made the Cantonment Mill what it is today, World Class !!! Now is the time for International Paper to be a true partner and keep all of the employees working together to cleanup and rebuild this Great Mill. No contractor or outside so called expert will ever have the ownership for this Great Mill that the employees do. Now is the time to show the World the Greatest example of Company and Union Partnership in tough times!! May God continue to bless the Cantonment Mill, community and the World Class Employees.
Wouldn’t the employees qualify for unemployment? I worked as a laborer in a factory 15 yrs ago that would shut down for retooling for two weeks in the summer. We were able to and urged by the management to apply for unemployment.
Area managers are in the process of contacting all employees, all employees will be brought back and utilized with process.
what about the employees who are without a job? will they still be paid while out of work????????????? NOBODY will answer that!
I am sooo very happy to hear they are planning to repair/rebuild and reopen the mill. It is vital to this community and we need IP. Prayers for safety as everyone works together towards the continued success of this mill.
When was the last time this plant was actually sitting idol? Would be interesting to be able to compare water and air samples from just prior to the explosion and to say just prior to when or if the plant is fired back up to be able to compare the differences in the quality in and around the greater Ecsambia County area.
I’m sure that given the opportunity most of the employees would jump at the chance to help get the plant up and going again faster by continuing to work in a different capacity temporarily while still taking home a paycheck: cleanup and rebuild/repair.
Not good folks!