Fire Destroys Production Building at Northeast Pellets

A fire Wednesday morning destroyed the main production building at Northeast Pellets in Ashland and was also threatening a silo full of wood pellets. 

More than 20 firefighters from Ashland and neighboring communities responded to the blaze shortly after 3 a.m. according to published reports.

Ashland Fire Chief Don Bouley said no one was at the mill when the fire broke out and no one was injured. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within an hour-and-a-half. Bouley said the cause remains under investigation.

Crews remained on site Wednesday to deal with the smoldering fire inside the silo. The Masardis, Mapleton-Castle Hill-Chapman and Portage fire departments provided needed manpower.

This was the second extensive fire at the Northeast Pellets mill since it opened for business in 2006. A fire in March 2009 destroyed the main building and halted production for two years.