VIDEO: Investigators are trying to pinpoint the cause of Sunday’s massive fire at the old Newton Falls Paper Mill.
“That was one of the larger fires we’ve had in this area. We were there probably 3 hours, 4 hours until it was probably under control,” said Gary Lutz, deputy fire coordinator for St. Lawrence County.
A fire nearly as tall as nearby trees produced thick black smoke seen for miles on Sunday, coming from one building at the former Newton Falls Paper Mill.
Fire officials say a wooden administration building burned with the fire starting on the 2nd floor, they believe. Officials say the property has had problems with people trespassing, but there’s no official cause.
Lutz says the fire drew a sizeable crowd, including former mill employees.
“We actually called the troopers to keep people away because they were actually parking in the road, so people couldn’t get up there. I mean, it is kind of a thing of the past, but a lot of families stayed here because of that paper mill,” he said.
The mill stopped making paper 15 years ago. It once was one of the largest employers in the southern part of the county.
