Hedstrom Lumber Company President Howard Hedstrom watches as firefighters hose down the smoldering roof of the main sawmill. Firefighters from Maple Hill, Grand Marais, Colvill, Lutsen and Tofte were called to fight the fire on Wednesday, June 8.
Exactly a month after a major fire destroyed an unused building at Hedstrom Lumber Company and about a week after a close call, local fire departments were paged to another fire at the historic lumber mill. A 9-1-1 call came from inside the mill reporting flames in the main sawmill building at 1:36 p.m. June 8
The Maple Hill and Grand Marais Fire Departments were initially paged, and were on-scene by 1:52 p.m. They found the fire burning in the northeast corner of the huge mill building in the area where logs are placed for debarking. Smoke rolled out of the eave and around the booth that controls the debarking equipment.
Mutual aid was requested from Lutsen, Colvill and even Tofte fire departments to ensure there was enough firefighters to man hoses and enough equipment to transport water from the hydrant on the nearby Devil Track River.
A line of fire tankers and water drop tanks was set up and firefighters entered the building cautiously to locate the fire. Suppression was hampered by the inability to see inside the building because it was dark and smoke-filled. The Grand Marais Fire Department used its thermal imaging camera to locate areas where the fire continued to smolder.
Firefighters in turnout gear prepare to enter the smoke-filled sawmill at Hedstrom Lumber Company on Wednesday, June 8. In addition to hoses, firefighters used a pike pole to probe wall and ceiling spaces, looking for places where the fire may have spread.
The Lutsen Fire Department brought its fire support trailer with an air pack fill station to quickly and easily refill the firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). It was put to good use as firefighters rotated in and out of the building, looking for hot spots.
By 3:30 p.m., the fire appeared to be out, but firefighters continued to monitor and to vent the smoke from the building. Units began packing up and at 5:30 p.m. everyone was clear from the scene.
Also responding to the incident was a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fire crew, Cook County Ambulance and the Maple Hill traffic control (STOP) team.
Asked if the cause of the fire could be determined, Hedstrom Lumber President Howard Hedstrom said it was difficult to say. The mill was fully staffed. “We were working,” Hedstrom said.
The fire came to life rapidly said employees in the debarking area. Mike Kimball said he noticed a small fire and started toward it to put it out. He said he heard a “Woof!” sound and suddenly flames were shooting up to the roof. Another employee, Scott Houglum, was just in the vicinity of the fire. He said he walked to the other end of the mill, looked back and saw the shooting flames, which hit the ceiling and spread overhead.
All of the workers first went toward the fire to try to put it out, but thick smoke forced them from the building. As they stood by to help the fire departments if needed, they expressed shock at how quickly the building filled with smoke. They said it was difficult to make their way out. Staffer John Buchheit said, “I was using braille to find my way.”
Hedstrom said thankfully everyone was accounted for. As the fire died down at press time, he said it appeared that the mill would have to replace at least one major piece of equipment. He hoped that other areas of the mill were salvageable.
He said the most recent fire, at 6:06 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, was quickly spotted and extinguished by employees and the Maple Hill Fire Department before it did any damage. He said it is believed that fire was started by a spark from the mill’s boiler.
Hedstrom added that after the old planing mill building burned on May 8, efforts were ramped up to clean sawdust from around the buildings. “We were just cleaning up after the last time,” he said.
Hedstrom added that he was extremely grateful to all of the emergency responders. “We really appreciate the rapid response,” he said.
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