According to the Butler Eagle newspaper, a fire began at Hickman Lumber Company in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 28. The story noted that multiple fire departments were dispatched to the scene to help with the response.
In a social media post, Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring/Hickman Woods stated: “We got the phone call that no Sawmill owner or employee ever wants to hear. Hickman Lumber is on fire. We rushed to the mill, and we were joined by over a dozen local fire departments, and basically, the whole Hickman Lumber team was there on site. These volunteer firemen are amazing humans, and we are so grateful for their time and service. They did an amazing job containing the fire. There is a tremendous amount of damage, but thankfully, it is not a total loss. We have a lot of rebuilding to do, but the Hickman Lumber team that dropped what they were doing on a Saturday afternoon to show up and help was inspiring to see. I know that with this team, we will rebuild and continue. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who showed up and everyone who sent their prayers for our company and family.”
Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring provided an update on Monday that their lumber, kilns, and flooring plant were not impacted by the fire. They added: “We have a tight sawmill community in PA and can work with other mills to custom saw our logs and purchase green lumber to keep the kilns full and flooring available. We know we have a lot of great customers, and our entire Hickman team from the woods, the sawmill, and the flooring plant are committed to continuing to provide high-quality, Northern Appalachian flooring to you while we rebuild our mill better than before.”
The Hickman family has been in the hardwood industry since the 1930s when Harry Hickman, Jr. started a sawmill with a team of horses, and a crosscut saw. The company’s website says that a permanent sawmill was built in 1945 in the heart of the Allegheny plateau, which was the beginning of what would become Hickman Lumber. Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring was established in 2000. Three generations of Hickmans run the company together today – Larry, Denny, Jake, and Jessica.