Fire at Weyerhaeuser Facility


Eugene, Oregon, USA 11 April 2016 -- (From The Register-Guard) -- The cause of a fire late Saturday night at the Weyerhaeuser facility in west Eugene remains under investigation, Eugene Springfield Battalion Chief Jeff Kronser said Sunday.

A total of 30 firefighters and 10 fire apparatus responded to the scene shortly after the call was received at 10:39 p.m., Kronser said.

The first company was able to see fire and smoke from the roof area and so called in a second alarm, Kronser said. However, the fire was extinguished in about 20 minutes and the back-up crew returned to its station without engaging the fire, Kronser said.

An unknown number of employees were evacuated from the mill. No injuries were reported among the firefighters or employees.

Isaac Martinez, a mill employee who works a day shift, drove by the site on Sunday. He said he received a phone call about 1:30 a.m. Sunday informing him that he didn't need to report to work for his next shift.

Damage to the mill appears to be minor, Weyerhaeuser spokesman Gregg Miller said Sunday night. He said crews were doing repairs on Sunday, and hoped to assess on Monday when the plant can restart. There was no long-term damage, and officials expect the mill to reopen before too long, he said.

Miller estimated that more than 170 people work at the mill, over multiple shifts.

Kronser said the fire apparently began between two machines inside one of the mill buildings. The fire may have been in some eaves but not necessarily in the roof, he said.

No damage estimate was immediately available. A Lane County fire marshal is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.