FIRE AT STANLEY FURNITURE PLANT LINKED TO TORCH

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 19, 1993                   TAG: 9302190158
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
FIRE AT STANLEY FURNITURE PLANT LINKED TO TORCH
The fire Friday at Stanley Furniture Co. in Stanleytown started in an area where construction crews were using a welding and cutting torch on a door, the Henry County Fire Marshal's Office said Thursday.
The fire began on the second floor where workers were setting up a furniture-assembly area. Heat or flame from the torch ignited wood above the door, inspectors found.
Although the company's fire brigade members tried to stop the blaze, it spread into a concealed space in the ceiling and then moved rapidly, the county reported.
The 1924 wooden plant was one of seven at the site and the company's oldest. Some of the structure was saved because of firewalls but the company lost accounting and personnel offices and a clinic.
Operations were stopped for several days, but Stanley's 1,200 workers returned mid-week, said Albert Prillaman, president.
Prillaman said he doesn't have a final estimate of the damages, but it will be well into the millions.
The plant employs about 300 people. Prillaman said the employees will be rotated in temporary jobs on a second shift of production or in cleanup of the burned facility.
He said full production has returned in the portions of the complex not damaged by fire, and he hopes to have partial production of dining-room china cabinets back within three weeks.
"Full production won't be back until we rebuild the plant," he said.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB