Industrial Pallet Corp. workers return after fire

CLARKS HILL, Ind. (WLFI) - Only authorized personnel are allowed behind the fence leading into the Industrial Pallet Corporation in Clarks Hill. A building, semi trailers and pallets were all destroyed in a fire Saturday night at the business.

"Buildings can be replaced," Tippecanoe County Commissioner David Byers said. "People cannot [be replaced]."

Byers is thankful no one was injured or killed in a fire that took more than 12 hours, 100 crews and 20 departments to fight. Some employees at the Industrial Pallet Corp. returned to work Monday. Those working in the recycling operating center did not. That building was destroyed.

The company's newer building was not damaged allowing some work to continue. The new building is part of a company expansion.

"They have done the expansion," Byers said. "The drainage board has looked at the expansion they're doing with the retention pond. They're looking to expand their work force."

In a written release company officials said they hope to get a temporary recycling operation center up and running by mid week. It's the recycling center Byers said makes the company unique to the county.

"This company, for example, took a simple product and enhanced it," Byers said. "[They] make it into mulch and recycle pallets."

Byers said the destroyed building didn't have a sprinkler system.