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Volunteers from the Cambridge Fire Department received a call from George Mille that his sawmill appeared to be on fire Thursday, June 30, at 8:08 a.m.
The sawmill is located halfway between Galva and Cambridge, but it is located in the Cambridge Fire Protection District.
The Cambridge Fire Department responded immediately and requested mutual aid from Galva, Kewanee, Osco/Andover, Bishop Hill and Atkinson.
“When we arrived the north part of the building which was used as a board storage area was fully engulfed,” stated Cambridge fire chief Ed Dole. “Later, the roof on the other portion of the building collapsed, but some of the equipment located inside was saved.”
According to Dan Mille, he arrived at the sawmill shortly before 8 a.m. and saw smoke coming from the building, so quickly returned home to tell his dad.
“Dad and I went back to the mill and then we returned home so dad could call the fire department,” he said.
The fire is undetermined at this time, but may have been caused by a short in a dehumidifer which was used in the storage room according to Dole.
Dan also said he believed the fire started because of the dehumidifer.
Mille did not have insurance on the building or its contends.
Firefighters were on the scene until 1 p.m.
The Cambridge Ambulance Service was on hand to monitor the firefighters and hand out water and cold wet towels to those who needed it. No injuries were reported.
On Tuesday, July 5, George Mille said he has plans to rebuild and hopes his customers are patient.
“All of the wood cutting equipment was salvaged and doesn’t appear to damaged to much,” He said. “It will take time to rebuilding. The work wood shop was approximately 34’ x 64’ and the shed which housed the lumber was probably about 36’ x 30’.”
Mille said they lost over $10,000 worth of wood along with the building.
Volunteers from the Cambridge Fire Department received a call from George Mille that his sawmill appeared to be on fire Thursday, June 30, at 8:08 a.m.
The sawmill is located halfway between Galva and Cambridge, but it is located in the Cambridge Fire Protection District.
The Cambridge Fire Department responded immediately and requested mutual aid from Galva, Kewanee, Osco/Andover, Bishop Hill and Atkinson.
“When we arrived the north part of the building which was used as a board storage area was fully engulfed,” stated Cambridge fire chief Ed Dole. “Later, the roof on the other portion of the building collapsed, but some of the equipment located inside was saved.”
According to Dan Mille, he arrived at the sawmill shortly before 8 a.m. and saw smoke coming from the building, so quickly returned home to tell his dad.
“Dad and I went back to the mill and then we returned home so dad could call the fire department,” he said.
The fire is undetermined at this time, but may have been caused by a short in a dehumidifer which was used in the storage room according to Dole.
Dan also said he believed the fire started because of the dehumidifer.
Mille did not have insurance on the building or its contends.
Firefighters were on the scene until 1 p.m.
The Cambridge Ambulance Service was on hand to monitor the firefighters and hand out water and cold wet towels to those who needed it. No injuries were reported.
On Tuesday, July 5, George Mille said he has plans to rebuild and hopes his customers are patient.
“All of the wood cutting equipment was salvaged and doesn’t appear to damaged to much,” He said. “It will take time to rebuilding. The work wood shop was approximately 34’ x 64’ and the shed which housed the lumber was probably about 36’ x 30’.”
Mille said they lost over $10,000 worth of wood along with the building.
