Firefighters in Fernandina Beach extinguish WestRock machinery blaze in just over an hour


FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. (From news reports) -- The Fernandina Beach Fire Department and Nassau County Fire-Rescue arrived to a commercial structure fire on Thursday, Dec. 29th at 8:04 a.m.

Upon arriving at 600 N. 8th St., units observed industrial equipment ablaze at WestRock paper mill.

Firefighters worked with mill staff to gain access to the fire as quickly as possible.

The fire had been discovered by mill employees, who activated the fire suppression system for the machinery.

While this emergency measure contained the fire to just the conveyer belt, wood chips and dust ignited the top of the machinery at least 90 feet in the air.

Firefighters hoisted hose lines from the ground to the platform of the equipment.

Despite the hard-to-reach location, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in just over an hour from the time they were dispatched.

The fire was determined to be accidental, Fernandina Beach Fire Department said.

Paperitalo newsletters: Cost zero, value immeasurable. Sign up today.