A Pickens County sawmill fire was accidental, Pickens County Fire Department officials told News Channel 7 Friday.
The fire at Durham's Hardware was started by a worker who did not follow standard operating procedure and spray the work area down with water, a fire captain said. When he started welding the saw dust and hydraulic fluid caught on fire.
Owner Cecil Durham's secretary informed us Friday that the sawmill was a total loss and the facility probably won't be rebuilt. The loss of the 22-year-old business means that 50 workers in Pickens have permanantly lost their jobs.
Pickens Fire Department couldn't determine the cause of a second fire at Durham's. They said they may never know.
Durham estimated the damage at about $1 million.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement