KC suffers $20M in fire losses

The warehouse, located on the northern side of the main plant on the Southern Main Road, Couva, was completely destroyed by the fire which started around 5.30 pm.

Imran Khan, CEO of the Company, was having a meeting with employees at the time and he almost disregarded the fire alarm, thinking that it was just a fire drill. It was not until someone knocked on the door and shouted that the warehouse was on fire that Khan rushed to the scene.

Khan said around 50 employees were on the job packaging and storing products for seven containers destined for Guyana, Jamaica, the US, Canada, Barbados, and other Caribbean countries.

Fire Brigade units from Couva, Chaguanas and the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate under Acting Chief Fire Officer Scipio arrived on the scene in quick time but the fire, aided by a strong easterly breeze, rapidly engulfed the building which contained millions of dollars worth of raw material, as well as packaging and storing machinery and equipment.

KC Confectionery, which recently celebrated its 85th anniversary, was regarded as one of the most modern confectionery plants in the Caribbean. The company won several top awards in the commercial sector and was a high profile exporter to Europe, the US, and Canada. Neighbouring houses were threatened by the fire on Friday night but none was damaged as firefighters did their best to control the blaze. In some cases neighbours removed valuables from their homes thinking that the fire might spread.

"Thank God that did not happen," Khan said

He told Sunday Newsday the company had 275 employees on its payroll and when the fire started many of them were on the site sympathising with management as "they all considered KC Confectionery as part of their family," Khan added.

He said the workers will not be displaced.

"We will continue operations in the main plant with the help of other candy manufacturers in the country who will be asked to assist us with packaging.

"We have orders to fill and we have to be positive to meet the demands of the international business community. If not, we will lose out in the long run," Khan said.

Khan, who toured the burnt-out ruins yesterday morning, said he was happy "to see the number of employees around who had come to give whatever assistance necessary to help in bringing the situtation back to normalcy as quickly as is possible."

He said workers will be redeployed from next week.

"We have to deliver goods everyday, especially for the local market."

Couva Police are investigating the cause of the fire.