Clean-up, repair and construction crews are working seven days a week to restore full production at Page 1 Printers in Slayton.
A fire did extensive damage to the regional newspaper and glossy sheet printing plant Sept. 15. The fire started in a baler, where an employee was baling waste paper for recycling. While the fire was contained in the warehouse, at the north end of the plant, smoke and ash were spread through the plant. Besides repairing fire damage to the warehouse, the building and all machines must be thoroughly cleaned and tested before going on-line. The office and pre-press area, farthest from the fire, have remained open and operational.
During the clean-up, Page 1 has arranged for other plants in the region to print customer newspapers and other printing jobs. Businesses near the plant have helped by making space available for temporary inventory storage and inserting and mailing.
Two professional “fire restorer” companies are at work, recommended by the insurers. One is responsible for machines, the other for general cleaning. A general contractor is working on reconstruction in the warehouse area.
The machine and clean-up crews are working from area to area. Last week, while one cleaning crew worked in the warehouse, another cleaned the area where mailing and inserting of circulars are done. That area was expected to be into production by week’s end. They will next move to the press area, where newspapers are printed. The final repair area will be that of glossy sheetfed production.
Different production areas will go into operation as they become ready. A final date is not known, but with inserting and mailing nearly ready, newspaper production should follow relatively soon.
A primary concern is that smoke dust and ash not affect machine and electronic operation. Technicians from machine manufacturers are inspecting the equipment both before and after cleaning to ensure correct operation.
Four employees who were treated for smoke inhalation following the fire appear to be fine. They worked to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived.
The company owes they a debt of gratitude, and has also expressed special thanks to those who have helped in many ways. These include employees who are working to ensure customer needs are met, Slayton and Lake Wilson firefighters for extinguishing the fire, law enforcement for providing security and traffic control, businesses in the neighborhood who have provided space for storage and work and the Slayton Hospital for treating employees for smoke inhalation.
The plant is one of Slayton’s largest employers, with about 55 working full and parttime. None will lose their jobs due to the fire.
-- Page 1 owners and management
