Fire at Ligni Bel sawmill in Scotsburn, Nova Scotia

The Ligni Bel sawmill in Scotsburn, Nova Scotia suffered significant damage in a fire yesterday.

Several firefighters were injured when a flashover occurred in the boiler house due to the intense heat.

“It blew metal and people,” said Kate Strong, deputy fire chief in Scotsburn.

The fire was contained to the boiler house, but Strong the amount of damage is huge and that all the mill's electrical systems were destroyed.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. The fire marshal will be investigating today.

The mill was caught off guard by the incident and they do not have any temporary measures in place to substitute for the burned-out boiler house that is used to dry their lumber.

This Ligni Bel sawmill, owned by Lebcorp Ltd. of Montreal, was recently modernized with the help of a provincial $3 million loan guarantee. The mill produces dried framing lumber.

Fortunately, the firefighters' injuries are said to be minor.

Sources:

Fire in boiler house at Scotsburn mill sees blasts walls (The News)

Firefighters injured in sawmill blaze (Chronicle Herald)