No One Injured In Plum Creek MDF Plant Explosion

by | Aug 26, 2015 | News

No One Injured In Plum Creek MDF Plant Explosion

 

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The Plum Creek medium density fiberboard (MDF) plant in Columbia Falls experienced an explosion and fire, but no one was injured in the blaze.

The fire appeared to have been contained to one line of the plant, said Columbia Falls firefighter Karl Weeks. The call for the fire came out at 6:09 a.m. and firefighters were off the scene at 11:15 a.m. Weeks said there were multiple spot fires as a result of the explosion inside the massive plant. The facility underwent a multi-million dollar renovation after a fire and explosion damaged the building in June of last year.

The cause of this fire remains under investigation. Whitefish responded with mutual aid and about 15 firefighters total fought the blaze, Weeks said.

Plum Creek spokeswoman Kathy Budinick said the fire apparently originated in an area of line one that holds the fiber before it enters the line. “The fire suppression system worked as intended,” she said.

The plant has two lines and line two is up and running, Budinick said. Line one will remain down until repairs can be made, but Budinick said there was minimal damage to the plant itself. She said the fire suppression system also needs to be recharged.

From Hungry Horse News (2015)

 

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Plum Creek To Invest $10 Million In Montana Plants

by | Apr 6, 2015 | News

A gradual increase in housing starts across the U.S. and better timber prices are two factors behind Plum Creek Timber Co.’s decision to invest $10 million in plant improvements at its Northwest Montana manufacturing plants.

“We’re optimistic overall for another good year,” said Tom Ray, Plum Creek’s vice president of northwest resources and manufacturing. “The largest single concern is the lack of raw materials, but we’re hoping Congress will address that.”

One of the largest landowners in the U.S., Plum Creek had a strong year in 2014, reporting earnings of $214 million on $1.48 billion in revenues. Harvest numbers were 13 percent over 2013. But timber resources in Northwest Montana can be a concern. Last year, Plum Creek cut back hours for workers at the Columbia Falls sawmill from 40 hours per week to 36 after a federal court ruling blocked several timber sales on state forest land. “We had a decline there, but once we get past breakup and into early summer, we’re hopeful to go back to a regular schedule,” Ray said.

Plum Creek plans to invest $6 million at its medium-density fiberboard plant in Columbia Falls. The No. 1 line, which was built in 1974 and manufactures panels up to 1 1/4 inches thick, will see $1.6 million for improvements to reliability and efficiency. Another $300,000 will be spent on computer equipment and monitoring cameras.

The company also plans to spend $2 million on the MDF plant’s No. 2 line, which was built in 2001 at a cost of $80 million and produces thin panels one-tenth of an inch thick. The furniture industry is a major customer, but other businesses now use MDF products.

From Hungry Horse News: https://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/plum-creek-to-invest-mil-in-local-plants/article_e8e443a2-d883-11e4-ad41-cfbdb6471aba.html