By 
Sexton Lumber Lays Off 100 Workers After Newfoundland Sawmill Fire
Approximately 100 employees have been laid off following an October 29 fire at Sexton Lumber's Bloomfield sawmill in Newfoundland and Labrador. Repairs could take three weeks, although normal operations may not resume until the end of 2026.
Key Points
- Layoffs: Approximately 100 workers have lost their jobs temporarily following the sawmill shutdown.
- Fire damage: The October 29 blaze began in the boiler room and spread to a fuel barn containing planer shavings.
- Recovery timeline: Owner Kevin Sexton hopes repairs will be completed in roughly three weeks, with normal operations potentially returning by year-end.
- Industry impact: The shutdown is affecting Newfoundland and Labrador's interconnected forestry and agricultural sectors.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): Approximately 100 Sexton Lumber employees have been laid off following a fire that forced the closure of the company's Bloomfield sawmill in Newfoundland and Labrador nearly two weeks ago, according to owner Kevin Sexton, speaking to CBC Radio.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry Industry Association confirmed Monday that the province's largest sawmill would remain closed until further notice.
"It's an awful poor time to have to lay employees off ... unfortunately, at the moment, there's nothing we can do," Sexton told CBC Radio's On The Go on Tuesday evening.
Sexton hopes repairs can be completed within approximately three weeks, although restoring normal operations could take until the end of the year.
Fire Spreads from Boiler Room to Fuel Storage
The fire broke out October 29 in the facility's boiler room while wood was being dried. A worker carrying out a routine overnight inspection noticed smoke emerging from the exhaust fans.
Sexton said he contacted a nearby fire department and the company's power engineers to gain access to the affected room.
"By the time that we'd done all that, it was too late. The whole place was engulfed," Sexton said.
The flames subsequently reached the fuel barn, which stores byproducts generated during sawmill operations.
"There was approximately seven to eight tractor trailer loads of planer shavings in that fuel barn that just exploded," Sexton said.
The forestry industry association reported that one employee was injured while helping firefighters access the site. The worker is recovering well.
An investigation into the cause of the fire remains underway.
ScrapMonster Edge: Mill Shutdown Disrupts More Than Lumber Production
The disruption extends beyond the approximately 100 employees laid off. Sexton Lumber's operations are connected to timber harvesting, transportation, wood processing and agricultural customers. With the mill's fuel barn damaged, the fire has also affected infrastructure used to handle sawmill byproducts.
Industry takeaway: The distinction between completing repairs and restoring normal production is critical. Even if repairs finish within three weeks, the company's projected year-end recovery suggests a longer operational interruption for workers and businesses dependent on the mill.
Forestry and Agricultural Sectors Face Wider Disruption
Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry Industry Association executive director Bill Dawson described the fire damage as "considerable" and said the consequences of the temporary shutdown extend well beyond the sawmill.
Although Dawson could not estimate the monetary value of lost production time, he described the impact as "huge."
"We're very much integrated as a sector here," Dawson said. "It affects everybody."
He added that the disruption reaches beyond forestry into Newfoundland and Labrador's agricultural sector, reflecting the connections between the mill and businesses that depend on its operations.
Courtesy: www.cbc.ca
