(St. Joseph News Press) – An Albany manufacturer is starting to pick up the pieces after a fire May 8.
Albany Rural Fire Protection was able to save a back portion of the building that housed machinery for GHS Paper Tube & Core Manufacturing in Albany, Missouri. The fire destroyed the rest of the facility, including product inside.
The owners of the business were out of town during the fire, but have not set up in a temporary office, said Derek Brown, the city administrator for Albany.
There were approximately 25 employees impacted by the fire. Brown said GHS was a fairly large employer for the small town.
“They are a constructive member of the business community,” Brown said.
A detached portion of the building suffered heat and smoke damage, but the valuable equipment inside was spared, he said. A trade organization could be stepping in to help manufacture products for the company, to fill their orders and keep accounts going.
“All indications are good that this company will get back up and running,” Brown said.
Firefighters responded to the business, at 1:07 p.m. Sunday at 805 U.S. Highway 136. A tractor-trailer parked next to the building also caught fire.
Highway 136 was closed for several hours as crews worked into the evening to contain the blaze. The highway reopened around 6 p.m.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the fire marshal.
According to the GHS Paper Tube & Core Manufacturing website, the manufacturer has been in business since 1979. In 2002, it was purchased by GHS Paper Tube, and has been expanded to a 65,000-square-foot facility.
