West Fraser fire rescue at Riegelwood sawmill in North Carolina

The fire at the West Fraser sawmill will have an impact on the timber supply chain, especially on production capacity and transportation, which may lead to short-term volatility in timber prices. Chinese importers need to pay attention to market dynamics and consider alternative procurement strategies.
A Tractor Lifting the Tree Logs

West Fraser fire rescue at Riegelwood sawmill in North Carolina

according toColumbia County NewsFire crews responded to a stubborn fire at the West Fraser Sawmill in Riegelwood, North Carolina, on Saturday, the Times reported.

Acme Delco Riegelwood (ADR) Fire Rescue Chief Steve Camlin said firefighters were called to the sawmill at 1:45 p.m. The first arriving units reported multiple "large fires" in the waste wood pile, as well as sawdust and wood chips.

Winds in excess of 20 miles per hour fanned the fire, so ground teams were called in and tanker trucks were launched. A Forest Service helicopter was used to put out the flames, which spread into nearby woods.

"Strong winds pushed the fire into unburned waste wood, intensifying the fire and threatening several structures," Camlin said.

He added: “West Fraser deputies worked collaboratively on scene with ADR, Incident Command and county officials to extinguish the fire and protect the property and stock at risk.”

Camlin said the cause of the fire had been determined but had not been released until the investigation was complete.

LumberFlow Expert Interpretation

The fire incident will have an immediate impact on the North American lumber supply chain, especially in terms of sawmill capacity and transportation. With sawmill closures, lumber supply is expected to be tight in the short term, leading to price fluctuations. Chinese buyers in particular may look for alternative sources, such as turning to Russian lumber, to cope with reduced North American supply. In addition, the dynamic changes in the North American market may require Chinese importers to pay close attention to market trends when looking for flexible procurement strategies.

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