Destruction of Covered Bridge Potato Chips plant a 'nightmare,' says employee

An employee of a New Brunswick potato chip plant destroyed by firesays the business was more like a family than a place of employment.

David Campbell says the destruction of Covered Bridge Potato Chips in Hartland has been a "nightmare" for him and other employees, who are now left wondering what's next for them after a fire burned the manufacturing plant to the ground last Friday.

"We're not coworkers, we're not employees, we're, we're a family," Campbell said in an interview Monday.

"It's like it's a nightmare. One day I had a job, the next day it was,there was nothing."

CBC News has tried to contact Ryan Albright, CEO ofCovered Bridge Potato Chips, but has not receive a response.

The company has not shared any statements with the public since the fire.

The fire broke out at the manufacturing plant in the Waterville area, just southwest of Hartland, late Friday afternoon, and by the next day, all that was left were the charred metal remains of the building and equipment.

No one was injured, but the plant employed 75 to 100 people, and benefited local truckers and farmersin western New Brunswick.

The New Brunswick fire marshal is now investigating, and a cause has not been revealed.

Campbell said he and other staff received an email from the company's human resources department over the weekend, telling them to "hang on" as they figured out next steps.

Campbell said he's now at home, and is expectingto be formally laid off considering the extent of the damage at the plant.

He doesn't know what the owner's plan is but is hoping the plant gets rebuilt so he can get back to work.

"I am 58 years oldand it was just that kind of environment that I seen what kind of people they were to work for, and I said this isa place that I think I'm retiring from ...and now I don't know what to do becauseI have nowhere to work now," Campbell said.

Finding new jobs for workers

On Monday, Post-secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Greg Turner, in a statement said an "event" was being planned to assist workers who lost their jobs and may need income support from the federal goverment or help from counsellors at the province's employment service, WorkingNB.

"WorkingNB will also be providing free counselling services to the employees who may be struggling to cope with this sudden event."

Turner said it will take time beforeit's known what the next steps are for Covered Bridge, but he has asked department staff andOpportunities New Brunswick to find out from the owners how to best assist them.

"In the meantime, we have spoken with the union that represents the employees, and we are in the process of arranging support however we can."

Craig Walsh, eastern director for theUnited Food and Commercial Workers union, said staff who can't find alternate employment should be able to fall back on employment insurance.

Walsh said the union has 95 members who were employed at the company, with many still coming to grips with the fact that they're now out of their jobs.

"We're going to do everything we can right now to support the workers," Walsh said.

"And then if the owner decides to rebuild, we'll gladly be there along the way if he wants our help to help line up as much support and whatnot from any level of government that we can."