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

Smoke streams from a window as Skowhegan fire Capt. Daryl Wyman, right, and Skowhegan firefighter Kristi Poland work to gain access during a fire at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream in Skowhegan on Thursday.

Skowhegan fire Chief Ronnie Rodriguez, right, joins other firefighters in assessing their response to a fire Thursday at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream in Skowhegan. The building sustained heavy damage in the fire that started in a processing area where milk and cream are mixed as part of the production process.

People gather Thursday to watch as firefighters battle a fire at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream in Skowhegan.

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

Skowhegan fire Capt. Daryl Wyman, right, and Skowhegan firefighter Kristi Poland carry a hose line after they gained access to a window while checking for flames at the production facility for Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream in Skowhegan on Thursday. The firefighters also were working to ventilate the building.

Firefighters attack a fire from the third story of the production facility for Gifford's Ice Cream in Skowhegan on Thursday. A company executive said the fire began in a processing area where milk and cream is mixed as part of the production of the company's well-kown ice cream brands.

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