MOUNT JEWETT, Pennsylvania (From news reports) -- A call around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, of a fire at the Georgia Pacific MDF plant in Mount Jewett brought volunteer fire departments from three counties in response.
"They had a fairly small issue in the press area," said spokesman Rick Kimble from the corporate office in Georgia. He explained in the medium-density fiberboard process, "the fibers and everything have to be pressed together."
Volunteer fire departments from McKean, Elk and Warren counties responded, reporting moderate to heavy smoke conditions when the first crews from Mount Jewett arrived on scene.
Kimble explained, "They had an ember or two fall in the press. When they went to clean it out, it fell (to the floor). We have an automatic deluge system, which pretty much put it out before the firemen got there."
Per protocol, the building was evacuated and fire crews went through it to make sure there were no hot spots or flare ups.
"They have to go through and check the whole building," Kimble said. Shortly before 5 p.m., firemen were still on the scene and had yet to give the all-clear to get back in to assess the damage, he added.
As for the smoke in the structure, Kimble said the ventilation systems are set up to deal with that. "It shouldn't take long to clear it out."
He added, "The plant manager sounded like as soon as they got the all-clear from the firemen, they'd head back in."
There were no injuries in the incident.
Fire departments that responded to the scene or provided fill-in at stations included Mount Jewett, Kane, Hamlin Township, Bradford Township's Rapid Intervention Team, Wilcox, Smethport, Sheffield, Lafayette Township, Ludlow and Johnsonburg.
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