According to Belleville Fire Co. Chief Ron Byler, upon his arrival, an outbuilding to the rear of the structure used to debark wood and store sawdust was engulfed in flames.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they immediately went to work to stop the spread of the fire that was melting siding on the side of the main sawmill building.

Firefighters worked fast and contained most of the fire to the original building in about 20 minutes.

Firefighters from Belleville Fire Co. were assisted at the scene by Burnham Fire Co., Yeagertown Fire Co., Reedsville Fire Co., Milroy Fire Co., Allensville Fire Co., Big Valley EMS and local fire police.

Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER Firefighters evaluate the status of the charred remains of the debarker/sawdust storage building at Williams Lumber Co. on West Back Mountain Road in Belleville Monday evening.

West Back Mountain Road was closed during the incident from the village of Rockville to Hickory Lane until apparatus cleared the scene.

The investigation into the cause of the fire has been turned over to the Fire Investigator’s Office at the Mifflin County Regional Police Department.

Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER Firefighters work on hot spots as a front-end loader dumps sawdust on the concrete away from what remains of the debarker/sawdust building at Williams Lumber Co. on West Back Mountain Road.