R-Y Timber to shut its Livingston, Montana sawmill as it suffered 2nd major fire damage

Posted on February 21, 2023   |  

R-Y Timber Inc. will be closing its sawmill in Livingston, Montana after the facility suffered its 2nd major fire in 5 months; on September 12, 2022, the mill's planer mill building and its contents were destroyed by fire, and on February 7, 2023, the sawmill building was also severely damaged by fire.

The company was 4 to 5 weeks from restarting the planner mill operation when the fire ruined the sawmill but with both the planner and now the mill down, it would be another year before work could resume as normal. 

The mill employed 70 workers and is preparing to lay off a large number of them at the end of the week. 

The fire caused major damage to the sawmill facility; fire crews were on the location for over 13 hours tracking hot spots in the walls and ceiling insulation, as well as dealing with oils used for lubricants throughout the mill.

The Livingston mill is not able to continue production at this time because of damage to the sawmill building, which needs a new roof and that would be contingent upon labor, materials, and weather.