By Taylor Boyd
Wilderness Stuart Inc., a Stuart-based sawmill, is temporarily closed after a Sept. 7 fire damaged part of the building’s interior.
Ronnie Bolt, owner of Wilderness Stuart, said the damage has prevented the company from producing lumber.
“The fire got a good portion of the building and electrical motors and wire and stuff like that, and I’m going to have to replace about half of my roof. So we’re going to be down for a few days,” he said.
Bolt estimates the mill will be able to resume normal operations by early October.
“What I’m hoping for is we’ll get the equipment back up and running and contractors can work on the building around us while we’re working. I’ve brought electrical contractors and a building contractor in last week after the fire, and I’ll use my employees for cleanup and maintenance, and try to work everybody that we can,” he said.
Bolt credited the volunteer firefighters who responded to the fire with helping save the business and its jobs.
“They saved my business and jobs for people. I am very grateful and very thankful for that. They responded so quickly that the fire did not get out of control, or out of hand really, that it didn’t shut the mill down or take it completely out,” Bolt said.
Stuart Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Austin Bryant said the sawmill’s fire alarm activated at approximately 12:16 a.m.
“A couple of members went out there, and then they upgraded it to a working fire when they saw it was actually on fire. Eventually I think there was county-wide tones set for all fire departments,” he said.
Bryant said the first firefighters on the scene quickly knocked down the fire, preventing it from spreading.
“I wouldn’t say the whole sawmill burnt, it just kind of burnt the sides. The walls are plywood, and it burnt the walls on the inside of the metal building there,” he said.
Bryant estimated the fire was contained within about 30 minutes.
Stuart, Patrick Springs, Woolwine, Meadows of Dan, CCDF and Moorefield Store volunteer fire departments responded to the call.
“I thought it went well. I thought everybody responded really well to it and did a good job at this fire,” Bryant said.
