Toilet paper shortage because of brush fires in California?-Fiction!

Toilet Paper Shortage Because of the 2003 Southern California Fires-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor
The eRumor claims that because of the record Southern California brush and forest fires in 2003, the manufacturing plant responsible for 97 1/2 percent of America's toilet paper was destroyed and we're facing a toilet paper crisis.

The Truth
It's a complete hoax.
TruthOrFiction.com has not found any evidence of the existence of the alleged "Clappington Paper Products" factory or anything like it that got destroyed during the devastating 2003 Southern California fires.
The eRumor is poorly constructed and is probably an attempt on someone's part to create a toilet paper shortage just for the fun of it.
For the record, we checked with both the San Bernardino county and city fire departments and neither of them has a "Sergeant K. Jameson."

For those who remember, it prompts memories of an actual run on toilet paper that was caused by a joke by Tonight Show host Johnny Carson on December 19, 1973.
In response to a comment on potential toilet paper shortages by a congressman, Carson's writers included it in his monologue.
It prompted a buying spree by consumers that left empty shelves in many markets.

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Feature Story October 28, 2003
By News Reporter Jerry Simonreid
San Bernadino California, USA

I know that toilet paper isn't the most popular subject to discuss. However, we know by comparing disease rates in civilized countries versus countries with no flush toilets and toilet paper that your health and life depends on good hygiene. Much of the reason we are so healthy in the USA is because of running water, washing hands, and of course, toilet paper. But what if we ran out?

Here's some info for you to get ahead of the crowds. You know those wildfires in southern California now? Well, I bet you didn't know that the Clappington Paper Products factory is one of the many business that burned down. Have you ever noticed that regardless of the brand of toilet paper you purchase, that there are only five or six different types of toilet paper on the market. But there are a lot of brands and a lot of different names. Have you noticed that there are only a c! ouple different types of packaging for toilet paper?

Well, the secret is out. About 97 1/2 percent of the toilet paper in the US, Canada, and Mexico is manufactured in one facility. That would be the Clappington Factory, in southern CA. You see, the finished product is so lightweight, it is easy to transport by truck. Nearly no weight at all. And the factory is so close to the border, they use a lot of illegal immigrant labor. This is an open secret -- because INS knows what would happen to the nation if the one TP factory closed.

Well, it did close. The wildfires in southern CA have burned down the one factory which makes 97 1/2 percent of the TP in the US, Mexico, and Canada. It is expected to be 6 to 8 weeks before any other manufacturing facility can make adequate supplies of TP.

Governor Grey Davis has enough troubles with the fire, and with his recall election. He can't afford to be known as the governor who depri! ved the nation of toilet paper. So, he's ordered a news blackout of th e story. You haven't seen it on the news, right? But the email and internet allow us to know things that aren't on the news.

Stores have only about a 2 to 3 day supply of TP on the shelves. Wait till the word gets out, you'll see a run on toilet paper like never before. And it's going to be 6 weeks at the very minimum till the stores have any more.

If you haven't stocked up, now is the time. And forward this message to everyone in your address book. You wouldn't want your close friends to be out of something so important. I wouldn't joke about something this serious.

Information courtesy of:

Sergeant K. Jameson,
Engine Company Sergeant,
San Bernadino Fire Department

THIS IS TRUE! ! !