09/21/2021
NEWS RELEASE – Sept. 21, 2021
Page 1 recovering from warehouse fire
Page 1 Printers is getting back to normal operation after a fire Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 15) in the warehouse section of the regional newspaper and glossy sheet printing plant in Slayton.
The fire began in the paper baler, while a worker was packing waste newsprint and paper trimmings into bales for recycling. A motor apparently failed, producing sparks that ignited paper in the baler. The cause is being investigated.
The operator and three employees fought the fire with extinguishers until firefighters arrived. The four were treated for smoke inhalation at the hospital and later released.
The fire was contained in the warehouse area at the north end of the plant. The baler was destroyed and there was loss of newsprint and other paper inventory, due to fire, smoke and water.
Because smoke spread throughout the plant, extensive cleaning is required. Professional cleaners are now at work. Besides normal cleaning, all equipment must be wiped clean and gone over to ensure ash and smoke particles are removed, especially In electronic components.
While that cleaning is going on, Page 1 has made arrangements for other printers in the area to take care of customer needs. Besides printing, Page 1 provides mailing and inserting services for several newspapers in the region.
Some of the services at Page 1 have already been restored and other services will be resumed as cleaning progresses and machines are pronounced operational. Neighboring businesses have provided space for temporary inventory storage.
Owners of the plant are Chuck Draper of Pipestone and Jim Keul of Tracy. They were very appreciative of the Slayton Fire Department for their work and that of the Lake Wilson Fire Department who provided mutual aid.
The plant employs about 55 people, full and part-time, and none will lose their jobs. The loss was insured.
