Historic lumber mill destroyed in fire
According to Record Searchlight, reported that the flames were so intense that the charred property was still smoldering from the blaze late Monday morning, March 30.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Early Sunday morning on March 29, Lassen County California deputies responded to the old mill property on Riverside Drive after reports of a fire. Within minutes, the structure was reported to be fully involved.
According to Record Searchlight, reported that the flames were so intense that the charred property was still smoldering from the blaze late Monday morning, March 30.
'This is a hard loss for Susanville,' the department said on a Facebook. 'For many in our community, the old mill was more than just a landmark. It was part of the history and identity of this town.'
The fire is reported to have started at about 3:15 a.m. The California Highway Patrol said that the fire prompted temporary closures along Riverside Road as crews responded. 'While we have lost an irreplaceable piece of our community’s history, we are immensely grateful that there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters,' said the CHP on their Facebook page. 'Huge thanks to our first responders for preventing the fire from spreading further.'
The site, owned now by Nobles Construction, has been a productive business in the Susanville community, according to CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit. The mill property is 172 acres and featured a 110,000-square-foot main building that burned to the ground.
According to Action News Now, timber has played a defining role in the development of Susanville since the mid-1800s, when the region’s dense forests supported a thriving logging industry, turning the area into one of Northeastern California’s leading timber-producing regions. 'For decades,' the news station reported, 'sawmills and timber operations drove the local economy, providing jobs and supporting generations of families. The destruction of the old mill represents not only a structural loss but also a tangible connection to that legacy, which is an impact that will likely be felt across the community.'
Courtesy: www.woodworkingnetwork.com