Brooke Martin
On December 10, 2021, a powerful tornado leveled a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. The factory, owned by Mayfield Consumer Products, employed 110 people and was the third-largest private employer in Graves County. Following the tragedy, the company faced multiple lawsuits due to allegations of forcing employees to stay in the factory during the tornado. The tornado caused widespread devastation in Mayfield, and rescue crews worked tirelessly to search for survivors in the factory wreckage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Mayfield Consumer Products |
| Year Established | 1998 |
| Location | Mayfield, Kentucky |
| Ownership | Family-owned |
| Products | Candles, candle accessories, and home fragrance products |
| Factory Address | 112 Industrial Drive, Mayfield |
| Employment | 110 people worked there when the tornado hit; the company is Graves County's third-largest private employer |
| Work Shifts | Around-the-clock shifts to fulfill Christmas demand |
| Employee Pay | $14.50 an hour |
| Employee Benefits | No healthcare benefits available; pay below minimum wage |
| Management | Rude and threatening; accused of forcing employees to stay in the factory during the tornado |
| Safety Violations | 12 violations identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2019, 7 labeled as "serious" |
| Tornado Impact | Destroyed the factory, resulting in 8 confirmed deaths, multiple injuries, and missing persons |
| Lawsuits | Multiple lawsuits filed by employees against the company |
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What You'll Learn
The factory was destroyed by a tornado in December 2021
The Mayfield Consumer Products factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, was destroyed by a tornado on December 10, 2021. The factory, which manufactured candles and home fragrance products, was leveled by the powerful tornado, resulting in a tragic loss of life and injuries. Eight people lost their lives, and many others were injured, with some trapped under the collapsed roof.
The tornado struck the factory directly, causing extensive damage to the building and trapping the 110 employees inside. Search and rescue efforts commenced shortly after the tornado, with first responders working to assist those affected by the disaster. The factory was a family-owned business that had been operating since 1998. It was a significant employer in the region, with a varying workforce of up to 200 people depending on seasonal demands.
In the aftermath of the tornado, Mayfield Consumer Products faced multiple lawsuits. Employees alleged that management threatened to fire them if they left the building before the tornado struck. The company was accused of putting its employees' lives at risk, despite having advance warning of the impending danger. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had previously identified serious safety violations at the factory in 2019, resulting in fines.
The lawsuits against Mayfield Consumer Products generated controversy. While employees and their families sought accountability, critics and legal professionals argued that the lawsuits might not succeed in court due to the challenges of proving intent and the way workplace incidents are investigated. As of 2024, three years after the tragedy, some of the lawsuits remained unresolved, with lawyers for the former employees stating that the cases were progressing at a normal, yet frustratingly slow, pace.
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Eight people died, and several others were injured
On December 10, 2021, a tornado levelled a Mayfield, Kentucky candle factory, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. The factory, Mayfield Consumer Products, is a family-owned company that manufactures branded candles and home fragrance products. It was reduced to rubble after being hit by the tornado, trapping workers under the collapsed roof.
The death toll at the factory stands at eight workers, with several others injured. Company officials reported that there were 110 workers on the overnight shift when the tornado struck. Of those, eight were confirmed dead, and eight remained missing. More than 90 others were located, with 102 survivors in total.
The company faced multiple lawsuits due to allegations that employees were forced to stay in the factory. Some employees stated that management threatened to fire them if they tried to leave the building before the tornado. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had previously identified serious safety violations in the factory, resulting in fines.
One survivor, Elijah Johnson, said, "My life was in danger. People were screaming and saying 'help us.' Johnson added that those who were injured were the lucky ones." Another survivor, Kyana Parsons-Perez, filmed videos on Facebook Live as she was trapped under the debris, pleading for help.
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The company faced multiple lawsuits
On December 10, 2021, a tornado hit Mayfield, Kentucky, causing severe damage to the town and its candle factory, owned by Mayfield Consumer Products. The factory was leveled, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. The company faced multiple lawsuits from workers, who alleged that they were threatened with termination if they left work before the tornado hit.
Mayfield Consumer Products, established in 1998, is an American family-owned company based in Mayfield, Kentucky. It manufactures branded candles and home fragrance products. The company had recently invested over $8.3 million to expand its operations, and the factory was in the process of meeting high Christmas-time candle demand. Over 100 people were working in the factory when the tornado struck.
In the wake of the tragedy, workers filed a class-action lawsuit against Mayfield Consumer Products, alleging that their managers threatened to fire them if they left work before the tornado. The lawsuit seeks financial compensation for the workers, with attorney Amos Jones stating that the survivors want "what the law allows them." The lawsuit claims that the company had more than enough warning of the impending tornado yet put its employees' lives at risk.
However, critics and some attorneys have argued that the lawsuit will not stand up in court. They claim that it will be challenging to prove that the managers intended for their employees to suffer harm. Additionally, a company spokesperson denied the claims, stating that employees are generally free to come and go without retribution.
Prior to the tornado, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had inspected the candle factory in 2019 and identified several "serious" safety violations, resulting in a $9,810 fine. OSHA was investigating the factory as of January 2025.
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Employees were threatened with termination if they tried to leave
On December 10, 2021, a tornado hit Mayfield, Kentucky, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. One of the buildings destroyed by the tornado was the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, located at 112 Industrial Drive in Mayfield, where 110 people worked. Eight people died in the factory, and many others were injured.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the company faced multiple lawsuits and allegations that they had forced their employees to stay in the factory, threatening to fire them if they tried to leave. Several employees came forward to share their experiences and concerns about their safety. For example, McKayla Emery, aged 21, recounted how workers first asked to leave after tornado sirens sounded outside the factory around 5:30 pm. While they congregated in bathrooms and hallways, the tornado didn't arrive for several hours. After it seemed the immediate danger had passed, several employees again asked to leave, but supervisors told them that leaving would probably cost them their jobs.
Elijah Johnson, another worker at the factory, shared a similar account. He recalled asking his manager if he could leave to go to his parents' house, where he felt safer. However, his manager threatened to fire anyone who left. Johnson lost eight colleagues in the tornado and sustained injuries himself.
Company officials denied the allegations, stating that they had a policy in place since the Covid-19 pandemic that allowed employees to leave whenever they wanted and return the next day. Bob Ferguson, a spokesman for Mayfield Consumer Products, refuted the claims, saying that managers did not tell employees that leaving early would put their jobs at risk.
The controversy surrounding the incident led to investigations by state officials and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear assured the public that the inquiry aimed to get to the bottom of what happened and uphold the necessary standards of safety and decent behaviour.
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The factory was Mayfield Consumer Products LLC's candle-making facility
The Mayfield candle factory was a significant employer in the region, with around 110 people working there when the tornado struck on December 10, 2021. It was Graves County's third-largest private employer, and the specific factory in Mayfield was its biggest. The number of employees could vary, sometimes exceeding 200, depending on economic conditions and seasonal demand. For example, Christmas was a busy time, and in 2018, the company invested over $8.3 million to expand its operations.
The facility operated 24 hours a day to meet market demand, and shifts would ramp up to fulfil Christmas orders. The company had a history of layoffs and rehiring based on economic fluctuations. In 2008, they laid off 91 workers, 42% of their total workforce at the time, due to a weak economy and low post-Christmas demand. However, as the economy improved, they added more jobs, and in 2011 and 2018, the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet authorized up to $1.5 million in tax incentives for the creation of 68 jobs at the factory.
The factory faced controversy after the tornado due to allegations that management threatened to fire employees if they tried to leave the building before the tornado hit, as it would be considered leaving their shift early. This resulted in multiple lawsuits filed by employees and criticism from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which had previously identified serious safety violations at the facility in 2019. OSHA fined the company $16,350 for issues related to electrical protective equipment, exit route maintenance and safeguards, and personal protective equipment.
The tornado levelled the Mayfield candle factory, trapping employees under the collapsed roof and resulting in eight confirmed deaths, multiple injuries, and initially, eight missing persons. Rescue crews worked to search for survivors, and the company established an emergency fund to assist affected employees and their families. The factory was left with 15 feet of twisted metal, corrosive chemicals, and wreckage.
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Frequently asked questions
The candle factory in Mayfield, KY, is located at 112 Industrial Drive. It is owned by Mayfield Consumer Products LLC.
On December 10, 2021, the Mayfield candle factory was hit by a tornado, resulting in eight deaths and multiple injuries. The factory was leveled, trapping the 110 employees inside under the collapsed roof.
Yes, multiple employees filed lawsuits against Mayfield Consumer Products, alleging that management threatened to fire them if they tried to leave the building before the tornado struck. The company was also cited for safety violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) prior to the incident.
