WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — Verso Corporation has released a statement saying they believe Tuesday’s fire at their idled Wisconsin Rapids plant may have started with a lightning strike.
In a statement to WAOW TV, the corporation says it appears the mill was struck by lightning, which caused a fire at the scrubber stack.
Wisconsin Rapids firefighters say they traced the flames to a fiberglass stack that was part of an idled hardwood digester. From there the flames grew until they engulfed a smokestack, causing it to collapse.
Crews say the flames were contained to the stack area and #1 digester building.
No Verso employees were injured. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
Verso’s statement went on to thank the fire crews who responded to the scene.
Crews were called to the scene when a passerby noticed smoke coming from the stack at around 8:30. The flames were out by 10 PM and crews remained on the scene until after midnight.
The Verso plant, which has been idled since last summer, still has a few dozen employees on the grounds each day to perform maintenance and fill some ongoing orders. A cooperative of Northwoods timber professionals have been working to secure funding to possibly purchase the facility with the goal of restarting it.
Verso has had off-and-on intentions to sell the property.
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A fire has been spotted at a local paper mill.
WAOW-TV is reporting of a fire at the Verso mill in Wisconsin Rapids. Multiple viewers sent in photos and videos of the scene where thick smoke can be seen coming out the top of the mill.
WAOW-TV is reaching out to local fire departments and has a crew on the way to the scene.
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