Pulp mill fire contained, estimated 100,000 cubic metres of logs lost, fire chief says

A large log pile fire at Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp is expected to burn for a few more days, but officials say the situation has stabilized and there is no danger to the community.

As of Tuesday morning, Fire Chief Joe Grela said the blaze, which began Monday afternoon at the pulp mill on Highway 55, has been contained to the log yard. Crews remain on scene, supported by provincial resources. No injuries have been reported.

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“The log pile is still burning here, probably [will] burn for quite a few days yet,” he said.

“It looks like the danger has passed from the wood room as long as the wind direction stays the same.”

Four Meadow Lake firefighters and three from Goodsoil are working alongside a Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) helicopter conducting water drops.

He estimated the damage at roughly 100,000 cubic metres of logs — a total loss.

“And so far, that’s the only damage,” he said. “As long as the wind direction stays the same, the log pile will just burn out.”

Chris Stoicheff, senior director of public affairs for Domtar, which owns the facility, said the fire situation has improved significantly overnight thanks to weather changes and the work of local crews.

Stoicheff said the damage is limited to the company’s fibre supply area.

“That’s a significant amount of our property and what we call fibre supply,” he said, noting the loss will be “substantial.”

As for what caused the fire, Stoicheff said it remains under investigation.

“We’ll continue to look at what the cause is.”

The site will continue to smoulder for the coming days as suppression work continues.