Fire hits at least eight U.S. sawmills in as many states during last four weeks

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , February 24, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) –

Fire blazed in eight sawmills in the Eastern U.S. during the last month, including mills in Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Vermont, Building Products reported Feb. 22.

The most recent fire occurred Feb. 20 when a blaze destroyed Black Creek Lumber Co.'s sawmill in Volney, New York.

Before that, on Feb. 14, fire caused significant damage to Seattle-based Weyerhaeuser Co.'s planer mill in Plymouth, North Carolina.

On Feb. 13, a fire at Salt Lick, Kentucky-based Reeves & White Manufacturing Inc.'s Salt Lick mill caused an estimated US$500,000 in equipment damage and the loss of $100,000 in hardwood stock, reported Building Products.

On Feb. 11, Eagle Lumber Co. in Stamford, Vermont, lost its 15,000-sq. ft. processing plant because of fire. The same day, Twin Pines Lumber Co. of East Kingsford, Michigan, also lost its sawmill to fire.

A fire Feb. 10 at Linden Lumber Co.'s sawmill in Linden, Alabama, began in the hydraulic room. The company expected to resume operations after about two weeks, Building Products reported.

Jan. 24, American Walnut Co. in St. Joseph, Missouri, saw significant damage from a fire.

And on Jan. 18, a sawdust fire struck J.B. Mill Lumber in Hickory Township, Pennsylvania.

The primary source of this article is Building Products, Newport Beach, California, Feb. 22, 2012.

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