COCHRANE, Canada — Rockshield plywood plant in Cochrane, Alberta, will be non-operational for up to six months as the result of a fire on August 12th. 

Company president Tom Scott says the flames appear to have started in a dust collector, but nothing is certain yet. He adds that Rockshield is looking at mitigation measures including buying lumber offered by its competitors.

“Our focus is on our people and about how we can hold onto them and they can… pay their bills, do these things and there’s some mitigation things that the company can do” he states,  “and we’re looking at doing a little bit more. So that’s our focus right now.”

Scott says the fire was contained to the debarking line, destroying everything associated with it, as well as a bit of the chipper room.

“And so it’s kind of bittersweet,” the president remarks. “We just got that running a week ago and now we’re down. It’s one of those things… we’re looking at, like I said, mitigating factors that allow us to operate as we retool.”