A major plant in Miami will be closing it's doors. Blitz USA has been producing gas cans since World War II. But tomorrow will be the last day any production will happen. So that means 117 employees are without a job and more than 400 family members are without health insurance.
"We have employees that have been here for 30 and 40 years. We have been the sole manufacturer here in Miami, Oklahoma since World War II for gas cans, so it's hard," says Amanda Emerson, Blitz USA Risk Management.
Blitz USA was unable to get product liability insurance after July 31. So, with several lawsuits on the company they have to close down. Most of the lawsuits were for people that put gas on fires. Something the company has addressed in their labels and feels they shouldn't be held to blame.
"They say never use gas to fight a fire. We even go above and beyond and put a tag on every sold that has a personal testimony pleading with parents to never use gas to start a fire," says Emerson.
The employees aren't the only ones that are losing something great.
"The level of commitment they have had to the community from sponsoring baseball teams to give to the chamber of commerce. There is just on so many fronts. It's just a huge lose," says Chamber Executive Director, Ian Drake.
The chamber is trying to get a new investors in and reopen the plant.
"We are trying to do things and hopefully it's not too little too late and there can be some more convening federal legislation go through. We are trying to build the perfect scenario," says Drake.
But for now, the plant will be empty and no more gas cans will be going out. Blitz USA has been working with their employees to write resumes and they have even held job fairs but that might not be enough.
"Sad part is there just isn't enough jobs in the area and we will see people leaving," says Emerson.
The official last day for the company will be July 31. On Friday, July 27, the CEO and President will be speak to all shift workers around noon.
