Category Archives: Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Yuma, AZ – Sprinkler system contains fire to machinery at paper company

The Yuma Fire Department responded to a fire at the International Paper Company last Friday night. YFD said they arrived at around 8:15 p.m. and discovered that machinery inside the building was on fire, and the fire suppression sprinkler system was keeping the fire contained. The fire was originally discovered by employees working at the facility who initially attempted to extinguish the fire themselves. When their efforts were not successful, a manual pull station alarm was activated, according to YFD. Shortly after that, YFD said the heat from the fire began to activate the sprinkler heads which contained the fire to the machinery where the fire had started. Fire damage was limited to the area of the machinery, and the ceiling area above. However, YFD said the open spaces of the building sustained additional smoke damage. No injuries to employees or YFD personnel were reported.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

North Okanagan, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for fire at sawmill

Quick-thinking employees and a fire suppression system saved the day at a North Okanagan sawmill Saturday.

The Lumby Fire Department were called to a fire at the Tolko WhiteValley mill at 7:30 p.m.

Fire Chief Tony Clayton said two night watchmen were already dousing the flames with water and the sprinkler system had been activated, saving the day.

“They did a really good job,” said Clayton, adding once fire crews got there they were able to knock down the flames quickly. “They kept it to the area of origin before we got there.”

Clayton said there was potential for the fire to spread and it could have been a lot worse.

The fire has been determined accidental and some mill equipment sustained damage.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Glen Falls, NY – Fire at tissue paper mill contained with help from sprinkler system

Firefighters from several local departments responded to a fire at the Essity Tissue mill in South Glens Falls late Sunday and early Monday, but the mill was up and running as of Monday morning. The fire was initially reported as a fire in a conveyor. No injuries were reported.

No exterior damage was evident from the blaze, which was reported around 10 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters from South Glens Falls, Hudson Falls and West Glens Falls were called to the scene, and remained there until 1 a.m. or so. Calls to the mill and the South Glens Falls Fire Department were not immediately returned Monday morning.

A public relations company emailed a statement later Monday that reported no part of the building was damaged, and the plant’s sprinkler system was triggered by a fire caused by an electrical issue. “No part of the building was damaged. An electrical junction box shorted and the arc caused a fire along the tray just below the roof. The facility was evacuated as a precaution,” plant manager Steve Duell was quoted in the statement as saying. The mill has had a history of small machine fires, with six between 2007 and 2012.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Worcester, MA – Fire on second floor of mill contained by sprinkler system

A fire in a vacant mill on Tainter Street was contained by a sprinkler system that, until mid-September, had been turned off.

The fire broke out around noon Tuesday and went to a second alarm when crews found fire on the second floor.

The city got a court order in September to force the building owner to turn on the sprinkler system in the building, which helped prevent a much bigger fire, officials said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Massillon, OH – Ventilation system fire at corrugated paper mill extinguished by sprinkler system

Firefighters investigated small fire in the ventilation system at Fibercorr Mills, LLC Friday morning on the city’s northwest side. Firefighters arrived shortly after 6:30 a.m. to the corrugated paper mill at 670 17th St. NW. The fire was extinguished by the company’s sprinkler system prior to their arrival.  Capt. Chris Schweier said the fire was still smouldering and firefighters checked the building for hot spots.  Paper making is a messy process that generates a lot of dust and paper particles, he said. The dust collected in the ventilation system and caught fire after being exposed to heat.  No injuries were reported, Schweier said.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Eugene, OR – Fire in silo at lumber mill is put out by automatic sprinkler system

A sprinkler system put out a fire that started at BJB Milling and Lumber Wednesday night.  Crews were dispatched just before midnight to the mill near Seneca Road and Roosevelt Boulevard in Eugene.  The fire started in a silo on the mill’s property, and fire officials said the sprinkler system prevented what could have been a huge blaze. The cause remains undetermined.  Just two months ago, a fire devoured the 190,000-square-foot Whitsell mill in Saginaw in just half an hour. That blaze caused $10 million in damage.  The Whitsell mill’s sprinkler system was ruled to be inadequate.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Standard, CA – Fire at sawmill quickly contained by sprinkler system

A heavy amount of fire resources were dispatched to the Sierra Pacific Industries Standard Mill on Camage Avenue at 7:34am Tuesday for a report of a fire.  The first responders found that a chair had caught on fire and it activated a sprinkler system. The fire was quickly contained before firefighters arrived and most all of the resources were immediately released from the incident. No additional information is available.

 

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Quesnel, BC, Canada – Early morning fire at sawmill controlled by plant’s sprinkler system

A fire at Tolko Mills on Two Mile Flat had Quesnel Volunteer Firefighters out in force at 2:30 a.m. today (Jan. 17).  A total of 18 fire department personnel attended, along with three engines and one ladder truck, says director of emergency services Sylvain Gauthier.  The fire was in the main sawmill, and was contained to this area by the mill’s sprinkler system. There was some damage to the mill’s structure and to electrical wiring.  Gauthier told the Observer that the fire was caused by a spark from a welder.  The Quesnel Fire Department was on the scene for just over three hours. Representatives at Tolko have said they are doing their best to get the mill back up and running as quickly as possible. This could happen as early as this afternoon or tomorrow (Jan. 18).

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Thunder Bay, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguishes oil fire at sawmill

On November 20, 2017 , at approximately 3:30 pm, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Service responded to the Resolute Saw Mill for a fire involving the heating system for the lumber drying kilns.

A total response of five pumpers and an aerial ladder, carrying twenty-one firefighters responded.

A power failure to the mill caused the circulating pump for the hot oil from the boiler to stop functioning. The circulating system was over pressured and the oil caught fire. The sprinkler system activated and extinguished the flames but the system remained pressurized and overheated.

After conferring with onsite staff, a plan was formulated to not interfere with the heating system and to let it cool naturally. Fire crews remained on scene until the oil had cooled to a safe temperature and the mill staff was confident the danger of fire or explosion had passed.

Staff will continue to monitor the system overnight and make assessments as to damage and repair costs in the morning.

Manufacturing, Paper Mill / Saw Mill

Kalamazoo, MI – (No Media Coverage) Fire damage minimized at paper plant thanks to sprinkler system

***No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported*** On Friday October 6, 2017 a sprinkler activated and successfully kept a paper manufacturing plant operational.

Paper from recycling collection points had been compacted into bales. The bales were awaiting to be made into pulp and were in transitional storage. A fire started within the bales. The sprinkler system activated and kept the fire minimized while employees of the Fire Brigade and Kalamazoo Public Safety arrived and overhauled the bales.

Due to the sprinkler system the plant remained in operation and the employees are still working making paper.