Men recovering after sawmill compressor room explosion--80 laid off, cause under investigation

SARATOGA, Wyo. (AP) - Two men injured in a sawmill fire have been released from a Salt Lake City hospital, a sawmill spokesman said.

Jerry Hamel and Ed "Buzz" Howe suffered 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns during an explosion and fire March 20 at a Louisiana Pacific Corp. mill.

They underwent skin grafting for burns on their faces, arms and hands at the University of Utah Burn Center and were released last Friday, said mill spokesman Dave Dugan.

The fire shut down part of the mill and caused about 80 percent of the 108 employees to be placed on temporary unpaid leave, Dugan said. The workers are eligible for state unemployment.

Last week the company shut down its planer, where lumber cut by the sawmill is processed. The mill is expected to resume operations in three to six months.

"That is the best estimate we have now," Dugan said.

The explosion occurred in the mill's compressor room and its cause is under investigation.

http://www.trib.com/HOMENEWS/WYO/Sawmill.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), April 06, 2000