[1]The charred commercial structure on the 300 block of state Route 508, just east of Interstate 5 is an uninsured loss. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The cause of the fire that destroyed Fire Mountain Farms’ main building and its contents east of Napavine on Thursday night will go down as undetermined.
Fire Investigator Derrick Paul said the area of origin was near the wood stove inside the fabrication shop, but exactly what ignited first is unknown.
The large metal structure contained equipment and other items belonging to the diversified family business.
Fire Mountain raises cattle on other property, but tons of barley to feed them were ruined, along with hundreds of bales of hays which would have been sold, according to Ryan Thode, vice president of operations. Fire Mountain also recycles treatment plant biosolids and lost three dredgers used for clearing lagoons.
Paul said this morning the loss of the building and its contents is close to $1.8 million.
It wasn’t insured, according to Paul.
The fire on the 300 block of state Route 508 was reported just before 8 p.m. on Thursday, and arriving firefighters found the building filled with flames.
The building was large – 150 feet by 40 feet – with a lean-to attached shed on the back and a loft area. The wood stove heated the part of it where they handled their own fabrication needs, according to Paul.
Also inside the structure was his father’s motorcycle room, according to Thode. Two of eight or nine of those were insured, according to Paul. A recreational vehicle that was parked outside and burned also was insured, he said.
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For background, read “Napavine area business loses building, equipment in fire” from Friday January 16, 2015, here [2]
[3]Equipment, stored livestock feed and all the contents of the large building lay in ruins. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul