In the heart of the busiest season for kiln-dried wood, Blackfly Firewood’s kiln went up in flames. The Nov. 21, 2014 fire, caused by an electrical malfunction in the kiln, left a backlog of customers without firewood and two employees without jobs.
Two and half months later, Blackfly Firewood is ready to offer kiln-dried firewood again. With a new kiln, the company, located at 982 Alna Rd. in Alna, is actively taking orders, which it expects to be able to fill by next week.
Louis Brown and Dwane Sukeforth own Blackfly Firewood Company. The business, which also has a forestry division, offers kiln-dried firewood, green firewood, and seasoned firewood.
Kiln dried firewood is treated in a kiln, which increases its flammability and the heat it gives off in a fire. Seasoned firewood has been aged to reduce the moisture it contains. Green firewood is freshly cut and has the highest moisture content, making it more difficult to burn.
The company cuts a large portion of the wood it sells itself and also contracts the work out to local loggers. “We try to keep as much money in the community as possible,” Brown said.
In the winter, kiln-dried firewood is its most popular product.
On Nov. 21, 2014, the Alna, Newcastle, and Wiscasset fire departments responded to a fire at Blackfly that broke out in the kiln. The kiln was totaled at the peak of the season for kiln-dried firewood.
At the time, Blackfly had a backlog of over a month of orders, Brown said. Customers were unable to get kiln-dried firewood from other area suppliers who also had a backlog, Brown said. Insurance covered the cost of the kiln. However, Blackfly lost approximately $70,000 in business and had to lay off two men on the payroll.
“It was really tough,” Brown said, “but what do you do? It was outside of our control.”
Through a stroke of luck, Brown said, the company was able to locate a reasonably priced used kiln that fit the foundation of the old one. It was delivered at the end of January and is currently being prepared for service.
Blackfly Firewood was able to rehire one of their laid-off workers. The other had already found a new job. Depending on the market, Brown hopes to hire additional staff in the spring.
“It’s going to be really good to be up and running again,” Brown said.
For more information about Blackfly Firewood, visit http://blackflyfirewood.com or call 563-8183.
