Firefighting Effort at Minn. Mill Could Reach Six Figures

SARTELL, Minn. -- The cost of fighting a fire that has been burning since Monday at the Sartell Verso paper mill could run into the six figures, city officials said Thursday.

More than 50 fire departments, seven law enforcement agencies and seven other agencies have been involved in efforts to put out the fire that followed an explosion in the paper warehouse.

Sartell City Administrator Patti Gartland said Thursday it's too early to say how much money has been spent on the response to the explosion and fire that killed one worker and injured four.

On Thursday afternoon, Sartell Fire Chief Ken Heim said the fire was 98 percent to 99 percent contained. Work to extract smoldering paper bales was expected to be finished Thursday but will continue into today. A contractor was at the mill Thursday to start demolishing the warehouse.

Heim said they have to tear down part of the building that is unstable so firefighters can more safely get inside to put out the rest of the flames. BNSF Railway allowed crews to shut down one of its tracks that runs through Verso's property. That gave crews a six-hour window to work on demolition.

There are about 4,000 paper rolls in the warehouse, weighing 1-4 tons each. Some are still smoldering and flare when exposed to the air while others are water-logged.

Heim said he believes 4 million gallons of water has been put on the fire, enough to fill more than six Olympic-sized pools. Still, firefighters are dealing with flare-ups on paper rolls and the rubber roof.

The building has "a lot of physical damage," Heim said. It's main papermaking machine is in "fairly good shape."

But Heim said the mill will be closed "for some time."

While Sartell firefighters work on the Verso mill fire, Heim said residents should know that their city is still well covered. Sauk Rapids and Waite Park will respond to calls.

City officials continued to thank departments, organizations and individuals who have helped.

Sartell Mayor Joe Perske, who teaches at Sartell Middle School, said he had a student ask how she could help. He told her to pray.

"This mill is a part of our community," he said. "We are committed to making sure the facility remains viable."

Copyright 2012 - St. Cloud Times, Minn.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service