A devastating fire was reported at the Frandsen sawmill in Panguitch, on Tuesday, August 20.
The fire was reported by Martin Bridges at 10:37 p.m. Martin was across the road at the cement plant cleaning and closing up for the day when he spotted the fire in the sawmill and called the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office to report it. Kevin Frandsen, the owner of the sawmill, was out of town at the time.
Panguitch Fire Department responded immediately and began fighting the fire from above on the road that goes up the hill, but it appeared that the fire was going so strong that all they could do was contain the fire.
Crews came from as far away as Henrieville to help. Fire trucks from Henrieville, Tropic, Bryce Canyon City, and Panguitch Lake responded to help contain the blaze. Panguitch and the Frandsens are grateful for the support of fire departments from the surrounding communities.
The fire departments used quick action to contain the fire inside the mill and then put it out. Equipment inside was burned. The metal building became warped from the heat but itself was not burned. Had the fire escaped the mill itself the result could have been much worse.
The Fire Marshal arrived early Wednesday morning and is investigating the cause of the fire. More news will be available as he completes his investigation and determines the cause of the fire.
It appears the inside of the mill is a total loss but that will also be determined by the Fire Marshal at the completion of his investigation.
The sawmill has been in the Frandsen family for two generations. Prayers go out to the Frandsen family and their employees.
– by Elaine Baldwin, The Byway
Feature image courtesy of Panguitch Lake Fire Department via ABC4.