Maddie James
On December 10, 2021, a powerful tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, causing widespread destruction and reducing a Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory to rubble. The factory, located at 112 Industrial Drive in Mayfield, was one of the town's largest employers, with approximately 110 people working there when the tornado struck. The disaster sparked controversy, with multiple employees filing lawsuits against the company for allegedly forcing them to stay in the factory before the tornado hit, resulting in a deadly combination of serious safety violations and natural calamity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Mayfield, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Company Name | Mayfield Consumer Products |
| Year Established | 1998 |
| Founder | Mary Propes |
| Number of Employees | 110 |
| Date of Tornado | December 10, 2021 |
| Number of Deaths | 8 |
| Number of Survivors | 102 |
| Address | 112 Industrial Drive, Mayfield |
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What You'll Learn
- The candle factory was destroyed by a tornado on 10 December 2021
- Mayfield Consumer Products LLC employed 110 people at the factory
- The company was sued by employees who alleged they were threatened with firing if they left during the tornado
- The factory was founded by Mary Propes in her garage in 1998
- It was one of the largest employers in Mayfield
The candle factory was destroyed by a tornado on 10 December 2021
The Mayfield Candle Factory, located in Mayfield, Kentucky, was destroyed by a tornado on 10 December 2021. The tornado ripped through the building, leaving it in ruins and causing devastation to the surrounding area.
The factory, located at 112 Industrial Drive in Mayfield, was a family-owned business that manufactured candles, candle accessories, and home fragrance products. It was one of the largest employers in Mayfield, with a workforce of around 110 people. Unfortunately, the tornado struck during a late shift when more than 100 employees were working inside the factory.
As the tornado hit, workers sought shelter and emergency response crews rushed to the scene. The building was levelled, with only the concrete foundation remaining. Debris and structural damage could be seen, and the aftermath revealed a devastating scene of destruction. The tornado caused severe damage to the community, uprooting trees, damaging buildings, and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
The tornado resulted in a tragic loss of life, with at least eight casualties among the factory workers. Many employees were injured, and dozens were initially reported missing, feared crushed beneath the rubble. The exact number of casualties remained unclear in the immediate aftermath, with rescue and recovery efforts ongoing.
The Mayfield Candle Factory tornado tragedy raised questions about the preparedness and response of the companies to protect their employees during the severe weather event. Worker accounts shared disturbing details, with some employees requesting to leave early due to tornado warning sirens but being threatened with termination if they left before the end of their shifts. The companies involved denied these claims, stating that supervisors followed protocols and employees could leave whenever they wanted.
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Mayfield Consumer Products LLC employed 110 people at the factory
On December 10, 2021, a tornado ripped through the Mayfield Consumer Products factory in Mayfield, Kentucky. The factory, located at 112 Industrial Drive, was home to 110 employees who worked to produce candles, candle accessories, and home fragrance products.
Mayfield Consumer Products LLC, a family-owned business, was founded in 1998 by Mary Propes, who started the company in her garage. Over the years, the business expanded, selling candles and fragrances to prominent retailers like Bath & Body Works. In 2018, the company invested over $8.3 million to expand its operations further.
At the time of the tornado, the factory employed 110 people, with 40 rescued as of Saturday afternoon, according to Governor Beshear. Eight deaths were confirmed, and eight people were reported missing. The tornado caused significant destruction, levelling the building and trapping employees under the collapsed roof.
The factory was one of the largest employers in Mayfield, with employees working extra hours to meet the holiday season demand. The company had been seeking to expand its workforce, advertising job openings with 10-hour and 12-hour shifts starting at $8 per hour.
The tragedy sparked controversy, with multiple employees filing lawsuits against the company. Allegations surfaced that management threatened to fire employees if they left the building before the tornado struck. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also noted "serious" safety violations in the building, resulting in a fine in 2019.
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The company was sued by employees who alleged they were threatened with firing if they left during the tornado
The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, was destroyed by a tornado on December 10, 2021, resulting in several deaths and injuries. The factory, owned by MVP Group International, was one of the largest employers in Mayfield, with over 100 people working in the factory when the tornado struck.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, several employees came forward alleging that they were threatened with firing if they left work during the tornado. According to these employees, supervisors and team leaders told them that leaving would likely result in termination. One employee, Elijah Johnson, claimed that he explicitly asked to leave and was told he would be fired. Another employee, Latavia Halliburton, corroborated this, stating that managers told workers they would be fired if they left.
The company, however, denied these allegations. Bob Ferguson, a spokesman for Mayfield Consumer Products, stated that employees could leave whenever they wanted and that there was a policy in place since the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that managers and team leaders undergo emergency drills and follow guidelines from relevant agencies.
Despite the company's denial, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the company by the workers. The lawsuit claims that the factory showed "flagrant indifference to the rights" of the workers by refusing to allow them to leave despite having several hours before the tornado struck. The lawsuit also alleges that supervisors failed to inform employees of the danger and the real situation.
The company's CEO, Troy Propes, responded by stating that they would retain an independent expert team to review the actions of managers and employees leading up to the tornado. Propes expressed confidence that their team leaders acted appropriately and heroically in sheltering the employees.
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The factory was founded by Mary Propes in her garage in 1998
The Mayfield Consumer Products factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, was founded by Mary Propes in her garage in 1998. The family-owned business manufactures candles and home fragrance products, which are sold to prominent retailers like Bath & Body Works.
Propes founded the company, now known as MVP Group International, decades ago. The company has operations in different states and related business ventures in China and India. It has expanded significantly since its early days, with Mayfield Consumer Products employing 245 people in 2018. The company was also seeking to expand its workforce in December 2021, advertising job openings on its website and Facebook page.
The factory in Mayfield was one of the largest employers in the area, with over 100 people working there when a tornado hit on December 10, 2021. The powerful tornado caused the building to collapse, trapping employees under the roof. Unfortunately, the disaster resulted in eight deaths and multiple injuries, with many others unaccounted for.
The company faced multiple lawsuits following the tragedy, with allegations that management threatened to fire employees if they left the building before the tornado struck. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also noted "serious" safety violations in the building, resulting in a fine in 2019.
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It was one of the largest employers in Mayfield
The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory was one of the largest employers in Mayfield, Kentucky. The family-owned company was founded in 1998 by Mary Propes, who started the business in her garage. Over the years, the company expanded its operations to different states and ventured into China and India. It manufactured branded candles and home fragrance products, supplying to prominent retailers like Bath & Body Works.
The company was a significant source of jobs in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 residents. It was Graves County's third-largest private employer, with a workforce that sometimes exceeded 200 people depending on the season and market demand. For example, Christmas was a busy time for the company, with employees working extra hours to meet consumer demand.
The company was still hiring at the time of the tornado in December 2021, advertising 10-hour and 12-hour shifts starting at $8 per hour, higher than the minimum wage. The afternoon shift began at 5 p.m., and mandatory overtime was frequently required, either by extending shifts or working on Fridays.
The factory employed many Mayfield residents, and its destruction in the tornado left the community reeling. Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched, with emergency response crews from around the state assisting in the search for survivors. The tornado's impact on the factory and the resulting loss of life highlighted the importance of the factory to the local economy and the need for safe working conditions during severe weather events.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mayfield candle factory is located at 112 Industrial Drive in Mayfield, Kentucky, United States.
On December 10, 2021, the Mayfield candle factory was destroyed by a powerful tornado that hit the region. The factory was leveled, resulting in deaths and multiple injuries among the 110 employees inside.
The Mayfield candle factory is owned by Mayfield Consumer Products LLC, a family-owned company founded in 1998 and based in Mayfield, Kentucky.
