KAMAS, Utah — The Blazzard Lumber Company has been a staple in Kamas for decades, ever since a local family started the business in 1944 and later moving to its current location in the 50s.
"I think they finally got the mill built and started production in like '55, '56," explained company president John Blazzard.
Through the years, the lumber company has provided lumber to communities across the country.
"A lot goes to Phoenix area, toward Denver, Pennsylvania, Missouri," said Blazzard. "All of this lumber that you see out here was sawed last winter and we put sticks between every layer so that it can dry and cure and then we were in the process of firing up the mill and finish it."
That all changed last week.
"When I got down here, there was already a fire one fire engineer and the place was pretty well engulfed," said Blazzard.
The South Summit Fire District says the call for the fire came in just after 10 p.m. last Wednesday. When crews arrived, they found the fire burning inside the lumber milling operation.
"We had a sash gang in here that was built in Germany, it was made by the Linck Company. Not very many of them, I think this might be the only one left running in the United States and it's pretty well ruined," Blazzard explained.
Overall, the mill received extensive damage.
"We've got so many other issues of all of the electrical components and wiring, and because basically that's all ruined and gone," said Blazzard.
The mill didn't have fire insurance.
"Because fire insurance for sawmills is so expensive that we couldn't afford it," Blazzard shared.
The company had to send home recently hired employees tasked with getting the mill up and running for the season, with the fire leaving the business at a relative standstill.
"The only thing I've got that I can sell is just what's in our, what's in the storage sheds out there," said Blazzard. "We had several truck and trailer load orders on the hook that I had to call the customers, tell them we weren't going be able to do it."
As the company works to clean up the damaged and charred equipment, the family appreciates the outpouring of support from the community has been fantastic.
"I had people from Here in Heber City call and say, 'You know, I've got an excavation company business or I've got concrete I can, you just call me and I'll come and I'll do it for you free of charge,'" Blazzard shared.
The company is now just trying to figure out what comes next for the family's 80-year-old business.
"I don't know where to go from here," admitted Blazzard.
The Utah Department of Public Safety says the fire is still under investigation at this time.
