ATF called to site of explosion
Investigators are expected to arrive today at JCG Farms, where one man died and five others were injured.
ROCKMART — Fire Chief Todd Queen said an investigation would start today into a Sunday explosion at JCG Farms’ feed plant that killed one man and injured five others.
Polk County Coroner Tony Brazier said that Justin Deems, 25, of Rockmart, was likely killed instantly in the explosion, which happened at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The plant on Ga. 101 has a street address of 1750 Rome Highway.
Deems’ body is being taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for an autopsy.
Queen said one of the five injured men was flown by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in critical condition. His condition was upgraded to “guarded” later Sunday.
Four others were transported by Redmond and Floyd EMS to Rome hospitals, although one was later taken to a hospital in Marietta. Their names were not available Sunday.
Queen said the Georgia Fire Marshal’s Office asked for help from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to determine what happened.
“Until we and the ATF can get into the building and look and determine how this happened and where it began, we won’t have a good idea of the cause,” Queen said.
Engineers were called in Sunday to determine the structural integrity of the plant after the explosion caused a partial collapse of a two-story building on site and did significant damage inside the feed mill itself. Ga. 101 between Brock and Marquette roads were shut down for most of the
day, until structural engineers gave the all-clear.
“The problem is that, should it fall, the tower is tall enough to come down in the northbound lane of Highway 101,” Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells said.
The 14-year-old facility, which produces chicken feed, will be closed for some time, he said.
A statement from Alabama- based JCG Farms is expected today.