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'It was complete chaos': Winston Weaver fire evacuees demand accountability_FULL_POST

Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo was among those who spoke at the Hanes Hosiery Community Center on February 16. DAVID FORD/WFDD

One month ago, Winston-Salem made national headlines for a fire that could have grown into something much worse. Thankfully the ammonium nitrate stored at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant did not provoke a fatal explosion, but it did lead to roughly 6,000 area residents being asked to evacuate. The emergency disrupted lives, halted businesses, and left many people frightened, angry, and concerned about the future. Those feelings were on full display last month at a public meeting held in the Hanes Hosiery Community Center gymnasium on February 16, 2022.

WFDD was there and has this look back on what was said by some of the North Ward residents who shared their concerns with mayor pro tempore D.D. Adams, Fire Chief Trey Mayo, and more than 150 community members. The speakers are Vanda Thomas, Cameran Sykes, Bethany Sietsma, Juan Gomez, Contillus Archie-Meyers, Dejuan Muhammad, Connie Trejo, Sabrina Thomas, Lamar Perry, Paulette Burch, and Maria Guadalupe.

Listen to their stories here:

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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