Blaze destroys Ludlow cedar mill

LUDLOW – A fire of undetermined cause leveled a cedar-products mill Monday night on Ludlow Road.

Houlton firefighters were called at about 8:15 p.m. to Gary Brewer’s mill after receiving a report that the mill was in flames.

Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone said that when he arrived, “the back portion was almost demolished at that time,” and the fire was moving toward the front of the main mill building.

The mill had last been in operation at about 11 a.m. Monday, Brewer told Cone, but workers were still at the site during the afternoon finishing up other projects.

They noticed nothing unusual when they left at 4 p.m., Cone said. Brewer had been in the mill office until about 5 p.m., the chief said.

Brewer was at home next to the mill when a passer-by stopped to tell him the mill was on fire. At that point, Brewer told Cone, the back portion of the mill was engulfed in flames.

The mill held Brewer’s entire production line, including saws and planers, Cone said.

Cone estimated the loss at between $100,000 and $200,000. Four people worked at the mill, which was insured.

More than 35 firefighters from Houlton and Hodgdon were able to save the mill office and storage building, the kiln, and the sawdust bin.

Firefighters used tankers to haul water about five miles from the Louisiana-Pacific mill in New Limerick and from a private pond on Ludlow Road.

They were at the scene for almost four hours. There were no injuries.