ANCRAM, N.Y. (From news reports) -- Four Columbia County fire companies responded to a structure fire Saturday morning, Oct. 31, at Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc., commonly known as the Ancram Paper Mill.
At about 8:54 a.m., Columbia County 911 sent Ancram and Taghkanic fire companies to the paper mill for a reported fire on the roof of the baghouse.
A baghouse is an air pollution control device and dust collector that removes from the air particulates or gases released from commercial processes.
When Ancram firefighters arrived on the scene, they reported a working structure fire and requested mutual aid assistance from Copake and Hillsdale fire companies. Livingston Fire Department was placed on standby.
Crews cut into the building's roof to make sure the fire had not spread between the several layers of roofing, fire officials said.
A pond on the paper mill property was used for a water source in fighting the blaze.
There were no reported injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, fire officials said.
Route 82 was down to one lane of alternating traffic in the area of the fire scene. Community Rescue Squad, Columbia County Fire Coordinator's Office, and Columbia County Sheriff's Office assisted.
The building, once known as Ancram Iron Works, became a paper mill in 1854 and still operates today. It is the longest continuously operating mill in New York state and one of the largest employers in Columbia County, according to the town of Ancram website.
