Capt. Tim Jackson of the South Rockwood Volunteer Fire Department douses remnants of a fire that burned about 3,000 pallets and three storage trailers Saturday at GBK Wood Products on Post Rd. in Newport. The Newport, South Rockwood and Estral Beach fire departments responded.
Fire engulfed thousands of pallets, sending flames 60 feet into the air at a company near here Saturday afternoon.
No one was injured in the three-alarm blaze that destroyed at least 3,000 pallets at GBK Wood Products, 5151 Post Rd.
Paul Barron, chief of the Newport Volunteer Fire Department, said scraps of cardboard were being burned in dumpsters when hot embers floated toward the stacks of pallets and set them ablaze.
"We had 50 to 60 feet of flames above the pallets," Chief Barron said, adding that the company lost about one-third of its stock. Glenn Heck owns the company that reconditions and resells pallets.
Three 40-foot storage trailers also were destroyed in the blaze that was reported about 3:30 p.m. Black smoke rising above the fire could be seen for miles.
Chief Barron said about 20 firefighters and five trucks from three departments, including South Rockwood and Estral Beach, were on the scene about four hours.
