Newly Reopened ND Paper Mill in Old Town Hit by Fire

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A fire incident was reported at the recently reopened ND Paper pulp mill in Old Town, causing minor damages to the mill. Two fire fighters suffered minor injuries during the fire. This is the second fire incident being reported at the plant in just more than a month.

According to company officials, the fire broke out in an unused area. The fire was discovered by an employee by about 9 am, while looking into unusual noises coming from that area. The employee reported the fire to mill security, who called the fire department by nearly 9.15 am. Firefighters from Glenburn, Orono, Milford and Bangor attended to the fire, which was extinguished after a while.

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The firefighters remained at the site until about 11.30 am. Chris Baker, Deputy Chief of the Old Town Fire Department stated that two fire fighters who were injured during the operation, were taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where they were treated for minor injuries and released. No other injuries were reported, Baker said.

Brian Boland, vice president of government affairs and corporate initiatives for ND Paper stated that the fire caused damage only to insulation material in the unused area of the mill. No operating equipment was damaged in the fire. Also, the mill suffered no structural damage, he said. Boland added that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and that the mill will remain out of service for 36 to 48 hours.

The China-headquartered ND Paper had reopened the mill last month, after four years. The mill had closed in 2015, laying off nearly 200 workers.