FLORA, Miss. --
A Flora lumber mill was destroyed in a massive Wednesday morning fire.
The fire started at Plantation Mill Works in Kearney Park at about 11 a.m.
Fire officials said they had to act quickly to keep the flames away from propane tanks inside the building.
Firefighters said that, because of the amount of lumber and the size of the fire, letting the fire burn out was the safest thing to do.
Five fire departments responded. They said the fire is posing no threat to residents.
The estimated 50,000-square-foot warehouse was destroyed.
"It looks like it has calmed down, but at 10:30 a.m., this whole sky was black," said witness Raymond Hall. "It looked like it was going to rain."
The business' owner was optimistic.
"My operation is on the ground now, but we are going to pick up and start again," said Plantation Mill Works owner James Cunningham.
County emergency officials, local firefighters and the sheriff's department are monitoring the scene.
No one was hurt and the fire is under investigation.
Copyright 2009 by WAPT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
