LIVERMORE FALLS – Fire damaged a pallet plant early Wednesday after a spark from a welder ignited some sawdust in the chipper room.
The fire at PalletOne/Isaacson Lumber Co. occurred as maintenance workers were brazing a patch on the duct system that blows sawdust into the trailer trucks, igniting saw dust in the room, Livermore Falls Fire Chief Ken Jones said Wednesday.
The fire traveled up the wall and into an adjacent room and across the roof area, Jones said.
Workers tried knocking down the fire with three fire extinguishers but were unsuccessful, he said.
More than 60 firefighters from Livermore Falls, Jay, Livermore, Wilton, Fayette and Leeds responded to the blaze that was reported at 2:36 a.m. at the Route 133 saw mill and lumber yard.
All employees were evacuated from the plant before firefighters arrived, he said.
The fire was knocked down and under control in 45 minutes, but cleanup lasted longer.
Jones estimated damage at between $30,000 to $50,000.
Howe Wallace, president of PalletOne Inc., was not available for comment at his Florida office.
Comments are no longer available on this story