‘It was totally engulfed’: Somerset County sawmill destroyed by fire

Nov. 27--Firefighters dispatched to a commercial structure fire in New Lexington Friday arrived to find fully involved flames, according to a Somerset County 911 supervisor.

Several departments responded to Bower's Lumber Co. at 3994 Kingwood Road, Rockwood, around 11 p.m. Friday and remained on scene fighting the blaze until about 6 a.m. Saturday, the supervisor said.

"It was totally engulfed," said Chief Randy Younkin, of New Centerville Rural Volunteer Fire Company.

Younkin said the burning sawmill's metal roof collapsed within five minutes after crews arrived at the scene, making it hard for them to get inside and extinguish flames from the inside of the structure.

Equipment was brought in to move debris at the scene, Younkin said.

The heat of the fire, which was powered by fuel inside the sawmill, warped the structure of the building, he added, making it a total loss.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, Younkin said, but the severity of the damage would make it difficult for a fire marshal to investigate.

"It's going to be an undetermined cause," he said.

Younkin said he was told the owners of the sawmill have insurance on the business, but he isn't aware of the details of that policy or how much coverage it will provide.

Along with New Centerville, fire crews from Bakersville, Rockwood, Confluence, Addison, Garrett and Somerset responded. Somerset Ambulance was also dispatched, but no injuries were reported.

Younkin said a mulch pile at the sawmill rekindled around 9 a.m. Sunday, but was extinguished quickly.

Jocelyn Brumbaugh is a reporter for the Tribune-Democrat. Follow her on Twitter @JBrumbaughTD.

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