January 5, 2009

CAMAK, Ga.---Dozens will be out of work today after an overnight fire destroys a plant in Warren County. The fire happened at the Timbermen Plant in Camak. That's off Highway 80, near Warrenton.

The fire is still burning this morning and we're told it could burn for days as firefighters are letting it burn itself out. Our crew was moved from the area around 6:30am after firefighters feared the building might collapse.

One woman cried to our crew, "It's my life." She says 90-plus families are now in jeopardy in the small Camak community.

Investigators at the scene tell News 12 it started around 9:45 last night.
Five firefighting units responded from Warren and McDuffie County and as far away as Glascock County.

Power lines in the area delayed firefighters as they tried to put the fire out. Some people in the area may have lost power at that time.

The crews were able to stop the fire, however, before it spread to a second building on the property that holds diesel and gas equipment.

News 12 has learned that the plant makes wood pallets and investigators say lumber in the building helped fuel the fire.

The plant was closed when the fire started and only a few watchmen were on the property. So far there are no reports of any injury.

News 12 has also learned the plant employs about 100-150 people in the area, with about 80-90 people working in the building that burned.

Warren County Sheriffs office says they do not think the fire is suspicious at this time, but they say as soon as it is put out they will begin an investigation.

According to its website, Timbermen, Inc is a local company with roots back to 1972. It started in Thomson, Georgia by Jim Hicks, Senior.

The plant moved it's headquarters and all manufacturing to Camak in 1984 taking over ITT''s old sawmill facility. Timbermen, Inc. says it is one of the largest wood pallet producers in the southeast providing products to South Carolina, Florida and beyond.