ConAgra Foods Explosion in Garner, NC

ConAgra Foods , located in Garner, NC, is suspected to have had an ammonia leak which may have caused an explosion at the Slim Jim packaging facility on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. There were 300 employees working at the time of the explosion and all but 3 were accounted for. Many were taken to area hospitals to seek treatment for extensive burns on their bodies and other for minor injuries. Two are still in critical condition at this time and one of the three missing has been located. They had gone to the hospital to receive medical help as the two others remained unaccounted for.

As of early Wednesday morning, June 10, 2009 the other two missing employees were located inside the facility and four remained in critical condition at UNC's burn center in Chapel Hill. Rescue crews were not able to go inside to retrieve the bodies since the structure was not structurally sound since the explosions; instead workers had to cut into the roof to lower a cage from a crane to retrieve the missing employees. Family members of one of the employees said Louis Junior Watson was helping another co-worker when the building collapsed on top of them.

ConAgra foods has set up an employee fund and has donated $100,000. They are asking for donations from their 25,000 nationwide employees as well. They are also covering the medical bills and funerals for their fallen employees. If you would like to make a donation to these families you can click here. Con Agra spokesman, Stepahnie Childs, said that employees will continued to get paid "while this situation is under way."