TWELVE FIRE DEPTS. RESPOND TO BRAXTON LUMBER CO. FIRE

(11/03/2016)
A major fire that started Tuesday morning at the Weyerhaeuser Lumber Mill in Heaters has resulted in significant damage.

The facility was on fire all day Tuesday through early Wednesday morning.

Braxton County Emergency Director Mike Baker said only one man suffered minor burn injuries. He was treated at a local hospital and released.

Baker said 12 fire departments responded to the fire.

He said the fire was in the dryer bin section, where bins of woods chips were being stored. It was an enclosed area, which made it difficult for firefighters to get water in.

A spokeswoman for the company, Nancy Thompson, said the facility employees 163 people there. Weyerhaeuser makes oriented strand boards, that go in ceilings and floors.

Thompson said they're in the early stages of assessing the damage. Thompson didn't know when the plant would be up and running again.

No word on what started the fire.