Matt Miller, KTOO – Juneau
Last week’s fire at a Hoonah sawmill has been called accidental.
Deputy state fire Marshall Bob Plumb says it’s believed that some sawdust smoldering in the mill building likely ignited a small aerosol or propane cylinder.
The fire destroyed the mill building and the head rig saw. But Sue Tyler of Icy Straits Lumber and Milling says their secondary manufacturing facilities, and log and lumber inventory stored on site are largely intact. She credits the Hoonah fire department for containing the blaze.
Tyler says they had a little insurance, but it may not be enough to cover the mill’s replacement.
Icy Straits supplied high value-added wood products throughout southeast Alaska. A small retail outlet was planned for Lemon Creek.
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