Lumber Producer's Plant Catches Fire Amid Bankruptcy, Layoffs

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A fire at a Pennsylvania plant owned by

hardwood lumber producer Weber broke out on the

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night of September 8th, reportedly requiring

more than 1 million gallons of water to contain.

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Fox 43 reported that firefighters arrived at

the 84-year-old company's headquarters in

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Lebanon around 9:10 p.m.

The station later noted that all first

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responders had left the scene by 8:45 a.m.

The following morning,

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with the building still under a controlled burn.

Reports confirmed that no injuries occurred and

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that a maintenance worker inside at the time of

the fire had safely evacuated.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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WGAL News Eight cited Lawn Fire Company chief

Dylan Wilson,

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who said he believes the site may contain the

most combustible materials in a single building

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in the state.

Wilson added that he expects the building to

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continue burning for days while crews try to

contain the fire within the structure's walls.

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The incident marks the latest in a series of

fires at Weber reported by WGAL News 8,

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including one in May,

one in 2021, one in 2017,

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two in 2016, and two in 2015.

The fire also comes about a month after Weber

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filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

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News site Webtown reported that a company

spokesperson described the filing as part of

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the company's restructuring plans and that

Weber had intended to continue its current

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business operations throughout the process.

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Weber's bankruptcy petition listed its 20

largest

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unsecured creditors, which totaled

approximately $4.4 million.

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A few weeks before the bankruptcy announcement,

Weber posted a WARN notice that revealed plans

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to lay off 145 workers at its Lebanon

distribution center.

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The layoffs were scheduled to end on September

9th.

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Lebtown reported that the company had planned

to close the distribution center and

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consolidate operations at the plant that

recently caught fire.

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I'm Nolan Bilestein.

This is Manufacturing Now.