$500,000 fire destroys lumber operation

A pillar of smoke and fire dominated the night sky near Echo Bay late Tuesday as a local sawmill was destroyed by fire.

The main building at Sylvan Valley Lumber (also known as Echo Bay Milling Co.) on Highway 638, MacDonald Township, was completely ablaze when firefighters arrived.

Police say damage is estimated around $500,000 and the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office has been asked to investigate in view of the amount of damage.

"The business owner and an employee were working outside when they noticed smoke coming from the roof," Ontario Provincial Police said in a written release this morning.

The site was secured by the OPP, keeping spectators and media well back from the Sylvan Valley Road fire scene.

Firefighters were called to the lumber operation around 5:17 p.m. and were still there into the wee hours of this morning.

They worked to keep the flames away from a number of acetylene tanks and away from sawdust, which is a notorious fire trap once it starts burning.

They planned to continue work today to ensure that all hot spots are completely extinguished.