Dillard, Ore. – After assessing the damage of the fire in its Weed Veneer facility, Roseburg has announced its response plan for the employees of the Weed facility. While significant damage occurred to outbuildings, residual piles, and certain areas of the manufacturing facility, the company’s goal is to provide stability, both to the employees and the facility as soon as possible.

“Our target is to be up and running by Thanksgiving,” said Allyn Ford Thursday during an Employee Town Hall for all Weed employees and their family members. “We are committed to this operation and the people here, both the employees and the community.” Roseburg bought the mill from International Paper in 1982 and has produced veneer for over three decades.

During the town hall, Roseburg offered 60 Weed employees positions in its veneer operations in Oregon for the time it takes to get the Weed facility back up and running. They will be provided housing and meals assistance. Other Weed employees will remain in Weed to help with clean up and repairs. The goal is to have the displaced Weed employees man the extra shifts in Oregon in order to keep up with production needs and existing order files. “The plan is to have Weed employees start working up in Oregon by Monday afternoon,” said Vice President of HR and Labor Relations Kellye Wise.

While repairs are being made and production is stalled, Roseburg will move Weed veneer inventory up to its plywood operations in Oregon beginning next week. Once that is complete, Roseburg will also begin moving logs up to the facilities until the Weed facility is ready to resume operations.

Weed Plant Manager Jeff Scholberg recalled the fire on Monday night and the spirit of the employees: “We had such an incredible response from our people at the plant. After being evacuated, they voluntarily chose to fight the fire at the mill, some knowing that their own homes were going up in flames.”

Roseburg will provide temporary housing for Weed employees who are unable to return home or lost their homes entirely. Counseling services are also available to help employees and their families. The company has set up a fund through the United Way of Northern California, allowing Roseburg employees throughout the U.S. to donate through payroll deduction. The fund, Weed Employee Relief Fund, will give 100% of the donations to those employees affected by the Boles Fire. The company will match employees’ donations dollar for dollar.

“Weed is a critical part of our enterprise,” said Vice President of Operations Grady Mulbery. “Our objective at this point is to provide stability to the community as quickly as possible. While the impact of the fire will be felt by many for some time to come, it is Roseburg’s goal to get the mill back up and running as soon as possible to mitigate the financial impact to the community and our employees.”

If you would like to donate to the Weed Employee Relief Fund, please send your check to United Way of Northern California and sent to 2280 Benton Drive, Box 14, Redding, CA 96033; in the memo line write “Roseburg Employee Relief Fund.” One-hundred percent of donations will be given directly to aid the employees of Roseburg Forest Products who have been affected by the Boles Fire.