Firefighters battle a fire Thursday at the production facility for Gifford's Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan.

Smoke comes out of a window Thursday as Capt. Daryl Wyman, right, and firefighter Kristi Poland of the Skowhegan Fire Department try to gain access during a fire at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan.

Chief Ronnie Rodriguez, right, of the Skowhegan Fire Department and other firefighters assess their response to a fire Thursday at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan. The building sustained heavy damage from the fire that reportedly began in a processing area where milk and cream are mixed for the company's well-known ice cream.

Capt. Daryl Wyman, right, and firefighter Kristi Poland of the Skowhegan Fire Department carry a hose Thursday after gaining access to a window while checking for flames at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan. The firefighters were also working to ventilate the building.

A group gathers Thursday to watch as firefighters battle a fire at the production facility for Gifford's Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan.

Firefighters battle a fire Thursday at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan.

A firefighter walks along a hose Thursday during a fire at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan.

Firefighters extinguish a fire Thursday from the third story of the production facility for Gifford's Famous Ice Cream at 25 Hathaway St. in Skowhegan. A company official says the fire began in a processing area where milk and cream are mixed for the company's well-known ice cream.