ST. MARYS – Nobody was injured when two buildings belonging to a
lumber company here were destroyed by fire Tuesday.

According to a spokesperson with the Crystal Fire Department in
St. Marys, at 7:20 p.m., a blaze broke out at Babcock Lumber, 519
Spruce St. Extension.

The spokesperson said firefighters found the boiler building and
the sawdust storage area engulfed in flames upon arrival.
Firefighters used water lines against the fire in the back of the
facility and quickly gained control of it.

However, due to the nature of the building and the storage shed
collapsing, two backhoes were brought in to subdue the smoldering
sawdust, according to the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the damage was contained to the boiler
building and sawdust storage area and that firefighters were back
in station at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Ridgway-based state police, Fire Marshal Cpl.
Thomas E. Josephson assisted the Crystal Fire Department in
investigating the cause of the fire, which is still
undetermined.

Police said the structure and contents were a complete loss.

The amount of damage is unknown at this time, officials
said.

The spokesperson said the Fox Township, Johnsonburg and Ridgway
volunteer fire departments provided mutual aid to the Crystal Fire
Department. The spokesperson was unable to give a count on the
number of firefighters that responded.

The Johnsonburg Volunteer Fire Department was also on stand-by
at the St. Marys station.