A large fire broke out at Seneca Hardwood Lumber’s flooring plant in Cranberry, Pa., Aug. 13, destroying one main building on the property, ExploreClarion reports. Surrounding production buildings, including the kilns, were saved, as were the company’s boilers and some of its hardwood flooring lines, enabling the company to continue production, Seneca Hardwood Lumber President Clinton Hepler said in a statement to WFB.
“We would like to thank our local volunteer firefighters for their efforts,” Hepler stated. “They successfully contained the fire to the structure in which it originated.”
The fire broke out the evening of Aug. 13 after the business had closed for the day, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Dozens of fire departments responded to the scene and battled the blaze into the morning of the next day.
Many local lumber companies came to Seneca’s assistance following the fire, providing kiln drying, lumber ripping, planing, forklifts and more, Hepler added. Assisting companies included Lipinski Logging and Lumber, Hickman Lumber Company, Ron Jones Hardwoods, Storybook Floors, Marsh Lumber and Fredonia Forest Products.
“Doug Duhaime at Hermance Machine Company has moved quickly to procure us a new planer, rip saw, and band saw,” Hepler stated. “There are many others in the local community too numerous to mention, but we thank them for their help and support, and we look forward to many more years in the business.”
