Thursday, June 5th began much like any other day at EastArk Enterprises. With more people absent than usual, 34 client workers and 14 staff members reported to work and began processing piece work/assembly jobs for Mid-South industries. The 10 a.m. buzzer sounded and clients took their regular morning break. At 10:15, our driver was walking near the warehouse door and smelled smoke. Within 3 minutes, EVERYONE was evacuated. Workers gathered under the huge tree at the front of the building and watched as fire trucks roared into view. Some began to cry… others were concerned about missing lunch… and some realized immediately that their workplace was on fire.
It took only minutes for the blaze to spread from the warehouse to the main building. Staff members escorted workers across the street. They stood in the parking lot, watching the smoke and flames engulf the building. The streets were barricaded and parents ran from blocks away, fearing the worst may have happened. Two nearby business owners invited all the remaining workers to stay with them.
The staff remained across the street, watching as the place where we all feel like family burned closer and closer to Woods Street. Many friends of the Workshop came as soon as they heard. News teams from Memphis gathered, set up stations and began to interview onlookers.
Firemen began to drop from heat and smoke. Marion firefighters arrived and two volunteers from Tyronza, returning from an ambulance run, came to offer their services. The crowd watched helplessly as these firefighters fought one of the biggest fires in recent West Memphis history. Not only did they risk their lives, but as the blaze died away, almost ever one expressed their regret for the loss of our building. Anyone who witnessed this tragedy would agree that our communities are blessed to have such dedicated men and women serving our citizens.
We stayed that evening until almost 8 p.m. Concerned friends from all over the county kept coming by and volunteering to do whatever was needed. Several individuals offered us temporary work space. People from all over the state sent word that they were praying for EastArk. One church in another state prayed all through the night. God answers prayers.
The staff gathered the next morning with a renewed spirit. Firemen loaned us boots so that we could begin sifting through the rubble to uncover whatever documents were salvageable. By noon, we had found a handful of new pencils and two new staplers. Miraculously, this week’s paychecks for our workers were found, lying on a heap of twisted metal.
The West Memphis Chamber issued a plea for aid to its members. Our son and daughter, Kevin and Robin, have volunteered non-stop, working to get tables, chairs and supplies so that our workers can return to work… and to finalize plans for what we know will be our biggest Golf Tournament ever!
We began 31 years ago when no one knew what a Workshop was. How fortunate we are that today, we have hundreds of friends whose support we can count on. How blessed we are that no lives were lost.
Thank you, Crittenden County. We’re counting on you to help us begin again… from the ground up… a better community rehab program than ever!
Jim and Janie Spence
EastArk Enterprises
West Memphis, AR