Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A wood products company said that it's investigating the possibility that one of its machines sparked a deadly wildfire in Northern California that's charred 4,000 acres and killed at least two people. The company, Roseburg Forest Products, said that its co-generation plant may have ignited the Mill Fire in the far northern part of the state last Friday. The blaze has destroyed more than 100 structures and killed two women. Advertisement Roseburg said the investigation centers on a machine at its Weed, Calif., plant that was used to cool ashes ejected from the co-generating electrical plant. The plant produces its own electricity in a facility that's fueled by wood remnants, and a generator ejects ash after consuming the wood. "That particular machine is perhaps the most likely candidate for what propelled or started the fire," company spokesman Pete Hillan said according to the Redding Record Searchlight. "We're still investigating. We don't know that yet. But of all the things that were near where the fire appears to have started, that seems to be the most risky item." Authorities said the Mill Fire in Siskiyou County, near the California-Oregon border, was about 75% contained by Thursday. Advertisement On Monday, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said the two women, aged 66 and 73, died in Weed. The Roseburg plant employs about 140 people. The Mill Fire destroyed two buildings in the back of its property, but most of the plant was not damaged and continues to be operational. Read More Wildfire southeast of LA burns more than 5,000 acres; at least 2 dead September swelter: Dangerous heat wave continues to roast West Northern California wildfire prompts evacuation orders Topics Weather & Climate Latest Headlines U.S. News // 5 hours ago Biden declares end of rust belt label during speech in Ohio Sept. 9 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden traveled to Ohio on Friday to help break ground for a new Intel semiconductor plant, which has been aided by the new CHIPS and Science Act. U.S. News // 1 hour ago NYC officials urge cancellation of Trump's Saudi-backed golf event Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Top New York City Council members are urging Mayor Eric Adams to cancel a Saudi-backed golf tournament at a course run by Donald Trump's company. U.S. News // 1 hour ago Mosquito fire continues to burn through Tahoe National Forest Sept. 9 (UPI) -- California's mosquito fire continued to spread in the Tahoe National Forest east of Sacramento, growing to 23,000 acres and forcing thousands of residents to flee. U.S. News // 1 hour ago Federal judge tosses Trump suit against Hillary Clinton, DNC Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A federal judge threw out Donald Trump's federal lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, the Democratic National Committee and others. U.S. News // 2 hours ago New York declares state of emergency amid growing number of polio cases Sept. 9 (UPI) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency Friday over the rising number of polio cases being detected in wastewater in multiple jurisdictions. U.S. News // 2 hours ago Summer snow falls in some U.S. mountain areas weeks before fall begins Snow fell across parts of Wyoming late Thursday night and early Friday morning -- the first snow of the season in Wyoming, according to the National Weather Service office in Riverton, Wyoming. U.S. News // 3 hours ago Founder of Proud Boys Hawaii chapter pleads guilty in Jan. 6 case Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The founder of the Hawaii chapter of the far-right group Proud Boys and one other man pleaded guilty Friday to obstruction of an official proceeding for their actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection. U.S. News // 6 hours ago Looming rail strike would cost U.S. economy $2 billion per day, industry report says Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A new report says that a looming rail strike involving more than 100,000 workers next week would cost the U.S. economy about $2 billion per day and idle thousands of trains nationwide. U.S. News // 6 hours ago Federal judge approves Boy Scouts' bankruptcy plan Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Boy Scouts of America's plan to exit bankruptcy moved forward Thursday after a U.S. district judge gave her final approval of it. U.S. News // 4 days ago Hurricane Earl draws closer to Bermuda Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Hurricane Earl continued to strengthen early Thursday as forecasters expect it will become a major hurricane later in the day as it heads near Bermuda.
Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A wood products company said that it's investigating the possibility that one of its machines sparked a deadly wildfire in Northern California that's charred 4,000 acres and killed at least two people.
The company, Roseburg Forest Products, said that its co-generation plant may have ignited the Mill Fire in the far northern part of the state last Friday. The blaze has destroyed more than 100 structures and killed two women. Advertisement
Roseburg said the investigation centers on a machine at its Weed, Calif., plant that was used to cool ashes ejected from the co-generating electrical plant.
The plant produces its own electricity in a facility that's fueled by wood remnants, and a generator ejects ash after consuming the wood.
"That particular machine is perhaps the most likely candidate for what propelled or started the fire," company spokesman Pete Hillan said according to the Redding Record Searchlight.
"We're still investigating. We don't know that yet. But of all the things that were near where the fire appears to have started, that seems to be the most risky item."
Authorities said the Mill Fire in Siskiyou County, near the California-Oregon border, was about 75% contained by Thursday. Advertisement
On Monday, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said the two women, aged 66 and 73, died in Weed.
The Roseburg plant employs about 140 people. The Mill Fire destroyed two buildings in the back of its property, but most of the plant was not damaged and continues to be operational.