Fire Tested Commitment

Team members positioned themselves in “fire brigade” fashion to carry office equipment out of the burning Woodpro plant on December 8, 1993. We have faced our greatest challenge to-date and we have survived.

Our team was stronger than ever and the interest of our customers had remained in the forefront of all our efforts after the fire.

Our people have truly been tested by fire! 

Photo by

  
Cabool Enterprise Newspaper  

Written by 
Lora Noll 
 

One of the most dramatic examples of the Woodpro teams’ commitment to on-time delivery came in December 1993.

The day was mild and sunny as the fire alarms began sounding! The announcement that the fire was real (and not just a false alarm) brought fear to the listening team members whose livelihood depends on Woodpro Cabinetry and its success. Team members evacuated the building and started roll-call - except for those special two dozen or so who took on the fire with pure will and determination.

For nearly an hour and a half, team members and fire fighters (from Cabool and four surrounding towns) battled the fire. Finally, they contained the fire and brought it under control. Eventually it was out.

The damage? Fire destroyed five percent of the manufacturing plant and most of the in-process cabinet parts. The fire burned near the center of the operation and dramatically limited material flow and the finish operation. The news was bad but everyone knew it could have been much worse.

Assembled outside the plant, LeRoy Walls stood with black soot streaked across his face and all over his clothes. He gave an informal report and choked “thank you’s” that had nothing to do with the smoke he had inhaled. Around him stood the men who had braved the flames with him. Everyone had played their part. That same day, the Woodpro team began making plans for recovery.

Team members arranged for around the clock, seven days per week operation to clean up the burned mess and rebuild the in-process inventory. With this super effort from the Woodpro team, the next week’s loads went out only two days late and four items backordered. The following week’s loads went out totally on-time! WHAT A TEAM!

12/31/1999