Staff at the Fiber Brite mote plant in Wilson plan to rebuild a portion of the facility that was deemed a total loss after a fire.
Power lines blowing in the wind created sparks, that lit cotton and quickly spread to a warehouse on the property, said the city’s fire chief.
“It started with the high lines, the wind blew some high lines together, had a spark, and it just developed very quickly into a massive fire,” said Chief Craig Wilke, with the Wilson Volunteer Fire Department.
“There are no words to describe it. it’s a very sickening feeling, it’s one of sheer panic and desperation. you’ve got to stop it before it gets to a point where it takes you out,” explained plant manager Mike Tomlinson.
Tomlinson said the burned structure was no more than a month old, after the plant had to rebuild from two fires in February.
“We have instituted new procedures, have had great fire-fighting capabilities in place when this ocurred. With the winds that happened that day we didn’t have a fighting chance,” Tomlinson stated.
According to EverythingLubbock.com records, Fiber Brite has suffered six fires since 2008, including Friday’s fire. In addition to the flames on Friday, the others include January 2008, January 2011, January 2014, and two fires in February 2016.
The first five were blamed on hot bales, which happens when sparks created during the ginning process smolder in the bales from the inside out.
After insurance adjusters survey the property, Tomlinson said the staff will rebound.
“We’re going to rebuild. We’re like the Phoenix, we’ll rise out of the ashes one more time,” he said.
