Both paper machines at Catalyst Paper's recycled newsprint mill in Arizona resumed production April 21 after a fire in the storage yard at its Snowflake mill destroyed approximately 11,000 tonnes of recovered old newspapers (ONP).
The fire on April 18 did not have any significant impact on any of the mill's production equipment. Quick and professional actions from the mill staff and workforce, coupled with the response from numerous fire companies in the Snowflake area, prevented a more serious outcome. There were no serious injuries reported, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
The combined impact of the inventory loss, equipment damage, and fighting the fire is expected to be less than the insurance deductible of $5 million.
With 12 hours of de-inked pulp inventory on hand, customer orders are being met with limited disruption. In-transit and on-site truck inventories of ONP are more than adequate for the next month of production.