Sugar Refinery Fire: 10:00 a.m. Press Conference

Savannah Metropolitan Police Chief Michael Berkow says the operation at the scene of the explosion and fire at the Imperial Sugar Plant (known as the Dixie Crystal plant) in Port Wentworth has now been shifted from a rescue operation to a "recovery" operation.  Six workers have been missing since the explosion rocked shortly after seven p.m.Thursday evening. 

 

Berkow says authorities had postponed a press conference originally scheduled for earlier today in an effort for authorities to talk with family members of the missing workers. 

 

Port Wentwort Fire Chief Greg Long says "the main damage was toward the rear of the building and most of the workers were located at the front of the building during the time of the blast."

 

Savannah Fire Chief Charles Middleton says "instability of the building may hamper recovery operations but that they are anxious to try to get process moving.  Middleton told reporters that they don't want to submit crews to any more "more danger than is absolutely necessary."

 

Officials are also holding an extended briefing for reporters at this hour in an effort to explain how the blast and fire occurred.

The attached video is the press conference in its entirety.