No injuries have been reported in connection to a Tuesday fire at Georgia Pacific’s Cullen site.

“We got a 911 call around 9:30 p.m. regarding a structure fire at the plant in Cullen,” said Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton.

Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Sexton indicated it appears the fire started from a conveyer belt at the facility.

Sexton said initially that there had been reports of at least one explosion at the former sawmill plant Tuesday.
“We were later informed that it (explosion) didn’t happen,” he said.  

Approximately 25 emergency units from around the parish responded to the fire call.

Emergency crews assisting with the fire were Cullen, Springhill, Sarepta, Shongaloo and Cotton Valley.
Sexton said it didn’t take firefighters long to gain control of the blaze.

“There was minimal structural damage,” Sexton said.

Reportedly, a team of officials from Georgia Pacific is slated to be on hand today at the north-Webster and former International Paper site.

In 2008, following a series of layoffs, Georgia Pacific closed its plywood and sawmill operations in Springhill.

The Press-Herald was unable to confirm if the site was actually operating at the time of the fire.

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved