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Last updated on Thursday, August 2, 2012
(PROSPECT) - Firefighters extinguish the blaze at Pendley Sawmill in Orange County around noon Wednesday.
Owners of the sawmill say the fire had originally started around 4 p.m., but they could not control it on their own.
The fire was was reported to the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 7:32 p.m.
Orange County Rural District I Volunteer Fire Department Chief Barry Walls believes the fire started after lightning hit a 200 foot wide by 40 foot tall pile of slab wood.
No firefighters were injured while fighting the fire and the sawmill was not damaged.
The fire was reported to the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 7:32 p.m. and the Rural District I department was dispatched. Walls says firefighters were on the scene in minutes.
"I was the first one there and started calling for assistance," he says.
Walls estimates there were about 45 firefighters from surrounding fire departments on the scene. Nine departments provided tankers, while others provided manpower.
Lawrence County sent firefighters from Shawswick and Marion VFDs to assist.
This is not the first fire at the sawmill. There was one in October 2010 and another was in 2005. The 2005 fire brought out 116 firefighters.
Among departments providing mutual aid Orange County Rural District II, Southeast Township, French Lick, West Baden, Lost River (from Shoals), Dubois, Livonia, English, Haysville, Schnellville, St. Anthony, Birdseye and Celestine.
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