Sugar Refinery Starts Up

More than a year after a deadly explosion, the Imperial Sugar Company in Port Wentworth near Savannah is back in the sugar business.
On Tuesday, employees fired up the boiler. They plan to start shipping liquid sugar this week. A week later shipments of crystal sugar will follow.
Back in February of 2008 an explosion ripped through the plant, killing 14 people. Investigators determined the blast was caused by an accumulation of sugar dust that ignited like gunpowder.
The company is in the midst of rebuilding the facility at a cost of more than 200-million dollars. The majority of those costs will be paid by insurance. The company's 350 employees have been working on getting the plant ready. Several lawsuits filed by victims of the explosion are still pending.

No Questions For Chambliss In Imperial Sugar Case

Georgia U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss will not have to answer questions from a lawyer suing Imperial Sugar on behalf of victims of the refinery explosion last year. Chatham County judge Hermann Coolidge issued a one-paragraph ruling that effectively stops a subpoena issued for Chambliss to testify under deposition. Savannah attorney Mark Tate wanted to question the Senator on whether Imperial Sugar sought Chambliss’ help to defend the company. The February 7th, 2008 explosion at the Port Wentworth refinery killed 14 workers and injured dozens more. Senate attorneys had argued the U.S. Constitution gives Chambliss immunity from taking questions on business in civil lawsuits.

Sugar refinery victim released in Augusta

The condition of one of the workers injured in the sugar refinery explosion in Port Wentworth has been upgraded, according to a spokeswoman with the Joseph M. Still Burn Center.

Paul Seckinger's condition was upgraded from critical to serious.

Another patient was discharged over the weekend.

Two patients at the burn center remain in critical condition and another is listed in good condition.

The burn center has treated 20 of the victims since the explosion in February.

Refinery blast victims released

Two more burn victims from the Port Wentworth sugar refinery explosion have been released from Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Only five of the original 20 injured in the blast remain hospitalized. 13 workers were killed in the Feb. 7 tragedy.

Sugar refinery explosion victim released from hospital in Augusta

A victim of the sugar refinery explosion in Port Wentworth has been released from the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

The patient, who the hospital did not identify, is continuing to receive treatment at the Doctors Hospital Rehab Unit.

Nine patients remain at the burn center. Three are in critical condition, three are in serious condition and three are in fair condition.

Thirteen people have died as a result of the explosion in February.