MAY 2023
Oak Creek Wood Products Recovers From Facility Fire
WPA-member Oak Creek Wood Products is recovering after a fire on May 21, 2023. According to a company statement, at approximately 7:23 p.m. that evening, a large pile of mulch at its production facility in Singer, WI 53086 caught on fire. The fire grew quickly, consuming mulch, stacks of wood pallets, and then extending to two company buildings. As Oak Creek personnel arrived at the location, multiple fire departments were already on-site working to put out the fire.
The geographical location of this fire caused many disadvantages to the crews working tirelessly to keep everyone safe and save what could be saved from the fire. Multiple ladder trucks, strategically placed, allowed fire crews to reduce the flames enough for Oak Creek Wood Products to be able to send in its excavators and at the direction and in coordination with the fire agencies, have its machine operators begin to dig trenches and reduce the size of mulch piles to contain the flames.
The company's repair facility was affected, minimally impacting customer deliveries. Oak Creek Wood Products quickly found a replacment facility
"This incident, thankfully, did not affect our new pallet production or lumber mill, so the vast majority of our customers and products were not affected," the statement said. "We will make continuous efforts to ensure that remains the case."
"This incident, thankfully, did not affect our new pallet production or lumber mill, so the vast majority of our customers and products were not affected," the statement said. "We will make continuous efforts to ensure that remains the case."
The statement went on to express gratitude to the first responders:
To the 45 fire departments spanning across six different counties, volunteers, and over 200 firefighters that quickly and professionally responded to and contained the fire and assisted in the difficult task of getting enough water to the site, we are immensely grateful for you all. We also want to extend our sincerest thanks to the businesses and residents in our surrounding community who came together and donated food, water, and numerous other essentials to the firefighters who worked endlessly. We feel very fortunate to be a part of such a supportive and charitable community.
While this fire caused significant damage to our property and some of our products, we are thankful that all employees, surrounding neighbors and firefighters are safe and no injuries were sustained, as that is our top priority.
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