One of the major employers in St. Paul in Madison County burned just three weeks before Christmas.
Surveillance video caught some of the fire on camera, but investigators are still trying to learn what started it.
Robert Ssmith works in the logging industry.
He says the fires affect will be far reaching. "In this business one incident in one area can affect the loggers and the people we deliver to," said Smith. Meanwhile, owner Mark Willhite is trying to help his employees get back to work. He says the insurance company will allow him to hire his employees to clean up the burned mill.
But that is only temporary. "My employees- if anybody can use them for awhile. I got 20 employees that are out of work right now," he said.
Willhite says the response from the community has been phenomenal, with phone calls pouring in all day with offers of help. But he says right now he's focused on getting his mill rebuilt and his employees back to work. "That's what you do. Big or small community. You help your neighbor," said Willhite.
Willhite's goal is to have his mill up and running again in four months.
The saw mill was a primary employer in the close knit community of Saint Paul.
And with the fire happening just three weeks before Christmas, finances are tight in this small Northwest Arkansas town.
"The community will do what I feel like they can because we are a community that does care. But under the circumstances, close to Christmas, I think it's going to make it really hard for a lot of people to be able to help even if they wanted to," said St. Paul resident Bethany Smith.
Still, Smith says this small community will need its saw mill to survive. "It will take a lot to get that place up and running again, and that's pretty much what this area will need to have happen," said Robert Smith.
Willhite Forest Products is a family owned business and has been in operation for 50 years.
They employ 42 people.
Surveillance video caught some of the fire on camera, but investigators are still trying to learn what started it.
Robert Ssmith works in the logging industry.
He says the fires affect will be far reaching. "In this business one incident in one area can affect the loggers and the people we deliver to," said Smith. Meanwhile, owner Mark Willhite is trying to help his employees get back to work. He says the insurance company will allow him to hire his employees to clean up the burned mill.
But that is only temporary. "My employees- if anybody can use them for awhile. I got 20 employees that are out of work right now," he said.
Willhite says the response from the community has been phenomenal, with phone calls pouring in all day with offers of help. But he says right now he's focused on getting his mill rebuilt and his employees back to work. "That's what you do. Big or small community. You help your neighbor," said Willhite.
Willhite's goal is to have his mill up and running again in four months.
The saw mill was a primary employer in the close knit community of Saint Paul.
And with the fire happening just three weeks before Christmas, finances are tight in this small Northwest Arkansas town.
"The community will do what I feel like they can because we are a community that does care. But under the circumstances, close to Christmas, I think it's going to make it really hard for a lot of people to be able to help even if they wanted to," said St. Paul resident Bethany Smith.
Still, Smith says this small community will need its saw mill to survive. "It will take a lot to get that place up and running again, and that's pretty much what this area will need to have happen," said Robert Smith.
Willhite Forest Products is a family owned business and has been in operation for 50 years.
They employ 42 people.
