Jessie Taylor
On December 10, 2021, a tornado levelled a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. The factory, owned by Mayfield Consumer Products, was founded in 1998 by Mary Propes and grew to become one of the largest employers in the county, with 550 workers. The company faced multiple lawsuits due to allegations of forcing employees to stay in the factory during the tornado. The tragedy left the community reeling and raised questions about worker safety and emergency protocols.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the candle factory | Mayfield Consumer Products |
| Year founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Mary Propes |
| Location | Mayfield, Kentucky |
| Number of employees | 110 |
| Employee wages | $7.50 to $14.50 per hour |
| Number of deaths | 8 |
| Number of injuries | Multiple |
| Safety violations | Yes |
| OSHA fine | $9,810 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory was destroyed by a tornado in December 2021
- Eight people died and multiple people were injured or unaccounted for
- The company faced multiple lawsuits due to allegations of forcing employees to stay in the factory
- The factory was a major employer in Mayfield, Kentucky, with around 550 workers
- The factory was founded in 1998 by local businesswoman Mary Propes
The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory was destroyed by a tornado in December 2021
On December 10, 2021, a tornado levelled the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. The factory, located outside of downtown Mayfield, was reduced to rubble, trapping dozens of workers under collapsed walls and a peeled-off roof.
Mayfield Consumer Products is an American family-owned company that manufactures branded candles and home fragrance products. The company was started in 1998 by Mary Propes, a local businesswoman, in her garage. Over the years, the company expanded its operations, investing over $8.3 million in 2018. By the time of the tornado in 2021, the factory employed around 550 workers, making it one of the largest employers in the county.
The tornado that hit the factory was part of a swarm of tornadoes that plowed across six states, causing widespread destruction. The factory, which was at peak operations gearing up for Christmas, was directly hit by the tornado, resulting in its destruction. The powerful winds peeled off the roof, and the walls collapsed, trapping the workers inside. Rescue operations were immediately launched, but it took hours to locate and rescue survivors from under the rubble.
The tornado's impact on the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory raised questions and scrutiny about why staff were working during the tornado. There were allegations that the management at the factory threatened to fire employees if they tried to leave the building before the tornado struck. The company faced multiple lawsuits from employees and was criticised for not cancelling the Friday night shift despite warnings of possible tornadoes in the area. Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) noted serious safety violations in the building, resulting in a fine in 2019.
The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory was an essential part of the local community in Mayfield, Kentucky. It provided employment opportunities, particularly for those who preferred it to more physically demanding work in nearby plants and farms. The fragrances from the factory could be smelled from homes located a mile away. The destruction of the factory and the subsequent loss of jobs had a significant impact on the community, highlighting the factory's role as a lifeline for its workers.
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Eight people died and multiple people were injured or unaccounted for
On December 10, 2021, a tornado levelled a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, killing eight people and injuring multiple others. The factory, owned by Mayfield Consumer Products, was left in ruins, with its roof peeled off and walls collapsed, trapping dozens of workers under the rubble.
Flor Almazan, a Guatemalan immigrant who worked at the factory, described being buried alive for hours, hearing the cries for help from her fellow workers. She recalled how she twisted her face towards a gap in the bricks, struggling to breathe. Eventually, after six hours, she was rescued by a firefighter and taken to a hospital in Paducah. Ms. Almazan's harrowing experience left her with painful injuries and psychological trauma.
The tornado struck during a night shift, and the death toll could have been higher if not for the absence of some employees like Bryanna Travis and Jarred Holmes, who usually worked at the factory but were not present that night. In the aftermath, Mayfield Consumer Products faced intense scrutiny and multiple lawsuits. Employees alleged that management threatened to fire them if they left the building before their shift ended, despite warnings of possible tornadoes in the area.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also found serious safety violations at the factory, including a lack of proper protective equipment and issues with exit routes. These violations resulted in a fine in 2019, and OSHA was investigating the factory as of January 2025. The tornado's impact extended beyond the factory, transforming the once-charming downtown Mayfield into a scene of devastation, with historic buildings damaged and streets littered with debris.
The candle factory was a significant employer in Mayfield, offering jobs to around 550 people, including local residents and inmates from the Graves County Jail. However, wages were reported to start at $8 per hour, close to minimum wage, and employees worked 10- to 12-hour shifts with mandatory overtime. Despite the challenges in finding enough workers, the factory was gearing up for Christmas, its busiest season, before the tornado struck.
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The company faced multiple lawsuits due to allegations of forcing employees to stay in the factory
On December 10, 2021, a tornado levelled a Mayfield, Kentucky candle factory, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. Mayfield Consumer Products, the company that owned the factory, faced multiple lawsuits in the aftermath. The lawsuits alleged that the company forced employees to stay in the factory despite the risk of an approaching tornado.
Employees of the candle factory claimed that supervisors threatened to fire them if they left work as the storm approached. In the proposed class-action lawsuit, workers alleged that Mayfield Consumer Products barred 110 employees from leaving the premises even though the company had over three hours' notice before the tornado hit. The lawsuit accused the company of failing to provide a hazard-free workplace, which was in violation of state safety regulations.
Several employees shared their experiences during this tragic event. Haley Conder, a 29-year-old worker, recounted that around 15 employees on the night shift requested to go home after hearing the first of two emergency alarms. Conder and her coworkers were kept in the hallways and bathrooms due to alleged safety procedures. McKayla Emery, 21, recalled hearing supervisors tell employees that they would likely be fired if they left. Another employee, Mark Saxton, agreed that he and his colleagues should have been permitted to leave.
Mayfield Consumer Products denied the allegations in the lawsuit. A company spokesman, Bob Ferguson, stated that employees were free to leave work early if they felt unsafe and that there would be no reprisals. Ferguson claimed that he had seen no evidence to support the accusations. However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had previously cited the building for serious" safety violations in 2019, resulting in a fine. As of January 2025, OSHA was still investigating the factory following the tornado incident.
The lawsuits and scrutiny faced by Mayfield Consumer Products highlight the importance of prioritizing employee safety, especially during emergency situations. The company's response to the tragedy, including their denial of the allegations, underscores the complex nature of ensuring worker protection and the potential consequences when such obligations are allegedly neglected.
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The factory was a major employer in Mayfield, Kentucky, with around 550 workers
The Mayfield Candle Factory was a major employer in Mayfield, Kentucky, with around 550 workers. The factory was located outside of downtown Mayfield, a working-class city of 10,000 in rural western Kentucky. The company was founded in 1998 by local businesswoman Mary Propes (also spelled Probus) in her garage, years after Mayfield's signature 20th-century product, menswear, declined. With the help of tariffs on cheap imports from China, the factory grew to sell candles to major US retail chains like Bath & Body Works.
The factory was a showcase of local entrepreneurship and provided jobs for many residents in Mayfield and the surrounding area. It was particularly known for employing Hispanic workers, who referred to the factory as "Las Velas," which means "the candles" in Spanish. These workers often preferred the factory to nearby chicken plants or farms, where the work was more physically demanding.
Wages at the factory started at $8 per hour, close to minimum wage, and provided much-needed income for many workers. Some employees, like Flor Almazan, a Guatemalan immigrant, were hired for $7.50 an hour to place wicks in small jars of wax. For others, a job at the candle factory was something to hold onto until something better came along.
The factory was operating 10- to 12-hour shifts with mandatory overtime shortly before the tornado hit in December 2021. On the night of the tornado, seven inmates from the Graves County Jail were working in the factory as part of a labor agreement with the local government. The tornado caused the factory's roof to peel off and the walls to collapse, trapping dozens of workers, including Ms. Almazan, who was buried alive. Eight people died in the tragedy, and the company that operated the plant faced intense scrutiny and lawsuits in the aftermath.
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The factory was founded in 1998 by local businesswoman Mary Propes
The Mayfield Candle Factory, based in Mayfield, Kentucky, was founded in 1998 by local businesswoman Mary Propes. The American family-owned company manufactures branded candles and home fragrance products.
Propes started the business in her garage, and it grew to become one of the largest candle-makers, selling to major US retailers like Bath & Body Works. By the time a tornado hit the factory in 2021, the company had expanded its operations and employed around 550 workers, making it one of the largest employers in the county.
In the years leading up to the tragic tornado incident, the Mayfield Candle Factory faced challenges in finding enough employees. The company advertised for workers to fill 10- to 12-hour shifts with mandatory overtime and starting wages of $8 per hour, close to minimum wage. On the night of the tornado, seven inmates from the Graves County Jail were working in the factory as part of a labour agreement with the local government.
The tornado levelled the factory, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. The company faced intense scrutiny and multiple lawsuits due to allegations that employees were forced to stay in the factory despite the risk of severe weather. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified "serious" safety violations, resulting in fines.
Despite the tragedy, the company demonstrated its commitment to its employees and the community by establishing an emergency fund to assist those affected by the disaster.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the candle factory in Kentucky was Mayfield Candle Factory. The company that operated the plant was Mayfield Consumer Products.
On December 10, 2021, a powerful tornado levelled the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, trapping dozens of workers under the collapsed roof. Eight people died and the company faced intense scrutiny and multiple lawsuits in the aftermath.
The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory was located outside of downtown Mayfield, Kentucky.
