For firefighters in Hamlet, North Carolina, frantic dispatches on the morning of September 3, 1991 were anything but typical.
The May Day call still rings in Chief Calvin White's psyche. He was a captain at the time, and his truck was the first to arrive at the burning Imperial Foods Plant.
"I called for every fire department and every rescue squad in the county,“ White said. “I had to move those souls. Those precious individuals twice that day."
Two and a half decades later, the recurring aftermath is still hard to shake for those who survived the accidental fire at the place that processed fried chicken.
The plant site is a community park and memorial site.
Recovery for Annette Zimmerman goes beyond physical injuries.
The trauma she faced has sent her to a mental health facility more than once.
"I spent plenty of time there unfortunately. It’s because of nightmares, especially this time of year," she said.
Bobby Quick's strong feet powered through one of the many locked doors. His actions sprung several trapped co-workers to seek safety, but it came with a price.