State officials in southwest Georgia reported that a woman was killed and two others were hospitalized due to an overnight fire at a Tyson Foods plant on Friday.
Mitchell County Coroner Robby Willis informed The Associated Press that the wife of a sleeping truck driver died when a wall collapsed on the cab of their 18-wheel truck. The victim was identified as Bajarma Batozhapov, 61, of Las Vegas.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, representing 1,600 workers at the plant, stated that a boiler explosion had occurred. Tyson mentioned that they were collaborating with local authorities to determine the cause of the fire, which lasted approximately three hours.
Heavy machinery was necessary to clear debris from the truck, and Willis mentioned that the woman’s body was recovered on Friday afternoon. Her husband, who was not in the truck, remained unharmed. Willis declined to reveal the cause of her death, stating that an autopsy would be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Monday.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends during this challenging time. Our priority is the safety of our team members, and we are conducting a thorough investigation into the fire’s cause,” remarked Tyson in a statement.
A Tyson Foods logo is seen on a truck parked at a food warehouse. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Bryce Rawson confirmed the fatality and injuries but could not provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.
The plant in Camilla, with a population of around 5,000 people, is the largest employer in Mitchell County. Tyson acquired it in 2018 as part of the $2.16 billion purchase of Keystone Foods. The union mentioned that the plant mainly manufactures chicken nuggets and fillets for restaurants.
“Agriculture is vital to our economy, and Tyson plays a significant role in that,” expressed Camilla Mayor Kelvin Owens.
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Owens emphasized that Tyson is more than just an employer to the city.
“They are not only essential to our economy but also to us as a community. We see them as family and will offer our full support during this time,” Owens stated.
