President of North Enderby Timber in Enderby, British Columbia, expects 'minor interruption' in production after fire breaks out in planer mill, destroys kiln

Wendy Lisney

VERNON, British Columbia , January 10, 2012 (The Morning Star) – Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of a blaze that destroyed part of an Enderby business.

Fire roared through a planer mill building at North Enderby Timber on Highway 97A Tuesday just after 3 a.m.

“We’re still looking at it,” said Kevin Alstad, Enderby fire chief, of the potential cause. “The roof collapsed so it will take some time to peel back all of the metal so we can get inside.”

About 17 members of the volunteer fire department responded to the early morning emergency.

“We rolled in and the whole building was involved. We couldn’t save it,” said Alstad.

“We tried to keep it from the other two buildings close by but unfortunately, we couldn’t keep it from the kiln and it was destroyed.”

North Enderby Timber officials indicate that staff won’t be negatively impacted because the main mill structure was not threatened by the fire.

“North Enderby Timber anticipates a minor interruption but our valued customers will continue to have their needs met by our other on-site operations,” said president Larry Poggemoeller.

In June 2011, fire consumed another planer mill at the site. That structure is now back in operation.

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