EMPORIUM — Early Saturday morning, a number of area fire companies were called to battle a large fire at a lumber mill in Cameron County.
Members of the Emporium Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to Emporium Hardwoods industrial facility in Shippen Township shortly after 4 a.m. The fire was discovered in the building that houses operations dealing with green (unseasoned) wood by night-duty watchmen.
In total, 12 fire companies from across Cameron, Elk, Potter and McKean counties were called in to battle the blaze or provide coverage for stations on-scene. Several calls were made to bring in additional manpower and equipment. Along with Emporium firefighters, first responders from Sinnemahoning, Renovo, Smethport, Port Allegany, Austin, Coudersport, Crystal (St. Marys), Ridgway, Fox Township, Norwich Township and Johnsonburg fire departments and the Emporium Ambulance Service, Mountaineer Search and Rescue, Cameron County Emergency Management Agency and Elk County Emergency Management Agency all responded.
Freezing temperatures and wind complicated firefighting efforts. Water had to be pulled from a pond on site, the nearby Sinnemahoning Creek and fire hydrants. Tanker trucks froze up due to single-digit temperatures.
However, crews were able to save most of the log yard and operational areas. While the building where the fire began is reported to be not much more than a shell, the kiln, storage units holding processed and new wood, and other areas were not damaged.
On Sunday, operations appeared to resume on the kiln-side of the facility, with a number of trucks moving logs around the site.
No injuries were reported by emergency responders or the two individuals who were on security detail and are credited with discovering and reporting the blaze. The fire was reported to be under control just after 8 a.m. Saturday morning, four hours after crews were initially called in.
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal John Whitcomb is investigating the incident, but a press release indicates that foul play is not suspected at this time.
“The origin of the fire was positively identified. Several possible contributors to the cause of the fire were determined and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, although at this time there are no suspicions of criminal activity surrounding the incident,” according to the state police report.
Damage from the fire is estimated to be between $7 and $10 million, authorities said.
Emporium Hardwoods is one of Cameron County’s top employers, with more than 100 workers employed at the site.
The Emporium fire department auxiliary and a number of other volunteers from within the community came together to provide food and refreshments for area firefighters battling the blaze.
