Despite a Saturday fire that destroyed a Lafayette Township
building that housed Minard Run Oil Co. Wells Service Division, the
company head affirmed Monday that the fire would only be an
interruption for the division.

The fire caused approximately ,800,000 in damage, consisting of
the building, three water hauling trucks, a pick-up truck and
additional stored equipment and items.

That hasn’t stopped Rick Fesenmyer, the head of the division,
from bringing the subsidiary company back to its feet.

“We are going to replace the equipment that was lost and, in
fact, build a new building – just start over,” Fesenmyer said.

He added the company is exploring some options for a new
location, but did not rule out building in the same spot at 566 Big
Shanty Road.

Fesenmyer pointed out the company would even be available today
for a fracturing job, but wouldn’t be able to haul water due to the
absence of the three hauling trucks lost in the fire.

Wells Service Division is a subsidiary to Minard Run Oil Co.,
but Fesenmyer hopes to build it into an independent company
throughout the next few years, he said.

The division started operations on Jan. 1, Fesenmyer said, but
wasn’t supposed to be fully operational until June 1. Renovations
to the Big Shanty location were almost complete to facilitate the
transition of the company into the location, but the fire destroyed
any progress.

A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal did not immediately
return a voice message left at his barracks Monday afternoon. The
cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

But, emerging from the disappointment of the fire has been a
wave of support coming from other local oil companies.

Fesenmyer said that he has been receiving calls from a number of
other oil companies offering support.

“The companies within the oil industry locally have really been
helpful – extending a hand,” he said.