Fire destroys sawmill near Ashton

Fire destroyed a sawmill in Marysville on Thursday night.

North Fremont Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Keith Richey said the fire was burning in stacks of firewood and timber at Fisher Logging near Ashton. Firefighters were able to protect other buildings. Damage was estimated at $250,000.

The fire began at around 2 p.m. Thursday, and firefighters were there until around 10:30 p.m. Crews were there all day Friday to make sure the fire did not reignite.

Richey said there were reports of downed power lines in the area before the fire. The sawmill had not operated for past six months, but there were 10-foot-high piles of sawdust on the ground.

Several spot fires were started on nearby grassland as a result of the fire.

Temperatures were so hot that firefighters were rotated through ambulances to keep them healthy. About 12 North Fremont Fire District and 10 South Fremont Fire District firefighters were at the fire.

The state fire marshal is on his way to the fire and determine the exact cause.