Strasburg firefighters and others respond to separate fires at Sugarcreek Shavings

Nancy Molnar, The Times-Reporter
·2 min read

FRANKLIN TWP. ‑ The investigation is continuing into fires at Sugarcreek Shavings that resulted in firefighters being called Saturday, Sunday and Monday to the business at 5508 Hilltop Drive NW.

United Hardwoods operates at the same address.

2019: Fire at Sugarcreek Shavings causes $5,000 in damage

2017: Fire causes $40,000 damage at United Hardwood in Strasburg

2016: 6 fire departments respond to Monday morning blaze at Sugarcreek Shavings LLC

The fires started in opposite ends of two different buildings, Strasburg Fire Chief Steven Laskey wrote in a Facebook post.

The first began with a report of smoke in the building at 12:53 p.m. Saturday. Strasburg crews responded with others to find a fire.

Laskey wrote that the fire started in a sack of sawdust in the rear building nearest a bay door on the northwest corner of the secondary building. He said the investigation ended after a finding that no heat or fire remained. All areas were examined with a heat imaging camera.

Sugarcreek Shavings produces wood pellet fuel, wood shavings for pet bedding and sawdust for chicken houses, according to its website. Fires have occurred previously at the location.

At 4:26 p.m. Sunday, the Strasburg Fire Department and others were called to Sugarcreek Shavings for the second fire.

Crews battled heavy fire conditions, Laskey wrote. Tankers shuttled water to the site because it has no hydrants. Firefighters drew water from two hydrants in Strasburg.

A total of 14 fire departments, Strasburg police, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol responded.

Laskey wrote that the Sunday fire is suspected to have started in the front southeast corner of the main building. Crews remained on scene until 12:20 a.m. Monday, nearly eight hours.

Crews were called back to the scene Monday, as two small areas of deep-seated debris rekindled.

"Crews from Strasburg and Wayne Township quickly controlled the area in question," Laskey wrote.

A call made to Sugarcreek Shavings on Monday was not answered.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: 14 departments fight Sunday fire at Sugarcreek Shavings