Arson fires inflicted an estimated $5 million in damage on the main manufacturing plant of Hunter Industries in San Marcos, Calif., over the weekend. FBI and ATF units are still investigating the Oct. 26 blaze that struck a facility central to the work of the worldwide manufacturer of landscape irrigation equipment.
According to officials, combustible materials in five separate areas throughout the plant initiated the blazes. Initial assessments have noted fire damage to the company’s molding department and water damage to administrative offices. However, the building is considered structurally sound, and recovery efforts are currently in action.
Hunter security personnel discovered the flames before dawn on Oct. 26. The company’s CEO Richard Hunter spent the day at the site, watching as firefighters worked to extinguish the fires.
“As can be imagined, this is a terrible blow to the company and the Hunter family,” expressed Jeff Carowitz, Hunter vice president of marketing. “Our major concern is for our employees. Thankfully, no one was injured and we are working to get our manufacturing staff members back on the job as soon as possible.”
Carowitz explained that the company has notified distributors that Hunter’s main shipping center, where products are inventoried, was unharmed, along with eight other manufacturing buildings at the company’s San Marcos campus.
“Hunter is in an excellent inventory position so customers can continue to count on us to supply all their product needs for the coming season,” he described. “We do not expect any disruptions to our ability to ship products.”
The company has several manufacturing sites and can quickly move production capabilities to other facilities in San Marcos, in addition to its plant in Cary, N.C., and its newest manufacturing center in Tijuana, Mexico.
The author is Assistant Editor-Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at aanderson@lawnandlandscape.com.