01/04/16   Fire At Anthony Timberland In Bearden Destroys Band Mill

A New Year's Day fire destroyed the band mill at Anthony Timberland's Bearden sawmill but according to Anthony Timberland's President, Steve Anthony the mill will be open within a week.

Anthony said the fire was discovered about a half hour after a security officer had made a check of the mill at about 12:30 Thursday morning. The fire was contained to the area known as the band mill where about a dozen of the company's 215 employees work processing large logs. Anthony said those that work in the band mill building will be reassigned. He said the mill will resume operations within a week at reduced production levels and that it will take eight to ten months to replace the band mill at a cost in the millions.

Cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Bearden fire department and several other fire departments from surrounding communities fought the fire and had it out in a short time. The fire comes less than a week after a tornado struck the sawmill and caused minor damage.