Mill Fire at the Woodgrain Plant in La Grande Monday Night
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, December 28th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from the La Grande Fire Department. Photos from the Elgin Rural Fire Protection District.) At 4:52 p.m. the LG fire department was alerted to smoke in the area of the Woodgrain mill on the Jackson Street side. A La Grande Fire crew responded and upon arrival found smoke and fire visible in the mill building. Because of the amount of smoke and fire present as well as the potential for a large fire, The Officer on the first engine requested a 1st and 2nd alarm which summoned off duty members from La Grande and additional crews from La Grande Rural, Imbler, Cove, Elgin, Union, North Powder and Union Ambulance.
Crews made entry into the building and worked to extinguish the fire and overhaul the structure by opening walls, ceilings and floors to extinguish hidden fires. The building has a fire sprinkler system which aided in holding the fire to the building of origin. The fire appears to have started in a compressor room on the first floor and extended to two additional rooms on the first floor as well as a second story office and the roof. The response included 10 Engines, 1 Ladder trucks, 3 Ambulances, staffed by 38 Firefighters, EMT’s and 3 Chief Officers.
