SUN JOURNAL • December 17, 2021
Crews from multiple agencies battled a four-alarm fire at Irving Forest Products mill Friday evening. Dixfield Fire Chief Scott Dennett said at the scene that the fire was in the rear of a production building and was contained shortly after 6 p.m., about two hours after it was reported. “The fire is contained at this point,” he said. “We are currently doing an overhaul in the building, looking for hot spots.” About 45 firefighters from departments in Dixfield, East Dixfield, Mexico, Rumford, Peru, Andover, Wilton and Jay responded to the scene. The Dixfield mill produces 75 million board feet of pine lumber each year. Acquired in 1998, the sawmill is North America’slargest producer of Eastern White Pine boards for interior and exterior finish applications. The sawmill serves as a market for loggers throughout the area.