Fire Destroys Hoonah Sawmill

Matt Miller, KTOO – Juneau

A fire today destroyed the Hoonah sawmill. The mill building for Icy Straits Lumber and Milling was leveled in the blaze that started just before 6:00 a.m. Thursday.

City administrator Bob Prunella visited the site as Hoonah volunteers and forest service firefighters finished putting out the blaze.

No one was reported injured during the blaze.

Icy straits lumber and milling is operated by Wes Tyler of Hoonah. The mill turns Tongass timber into high value-added products for use by local builders.

Prunella says state fire Marshalls were expected to arrive Thursday afternoon to begin investigating the cause of the fire.

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