PORT TOWNSEND, Washington (From news reports) -- A fire quickly extinguished by the Port Townsend Paper Corp. fire brigade did minimal damage to the mill with no injuries.

Mill officials reported a major fire to 9-1-1 dispatchers at 3:27 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 3) after a fire broke out on the ground floor of the Recovery Room, said Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire Rescue spokesman.

By the time fire units arrived at 3:35 p.m., the mill's fire brigade had knocked down the blaze, he said.

Fire department investigators said the fire appeared to have started after a heated steam pipe running into the room ignited sawdust duff which had collected on the wall touching the pipe.

Firefighters said the fire had extended up the wall and into the second story, so they had both floors and the roof saturated with water. The facility didn't appear to suffer significant damage from the fire, Beezley said.

Firefighters turned over the fire to mill officials at 4:44 p.m.

Three other units also assisted in the call.

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