Prince George pulp mill badly damaged by fire

A large section of the Canfor pulp mill in Prince Georgewas destroyed after a fire broke out Tuesday night around 6 p.m. PT.

Flames and smoke engulfed the four-storey high chip separator at the PG Pulp mill andspread along the three-metre wide conveyor belt that carries chips,destroying both structures.

Capt. Jim Sampson of the Prince George Fire Department said high winds made the fire difficult to fight, butfirefighters were able to save the main building and keep the fire away from piles of wood chips. Nobodywas hurt.

"It was very difficult because of the high winds and the height the fire was at. It was 100 feet in the air so it was difficult toget to easily," Sampson told CBC News Wednesday morning.

Sampson said mechanical problems may have played a part in the fire, but the cause is still under investigation.

It's not known how the fire will affect plans to pump hot water from a steam plant at the Canfor site into the Nechako River to help break up an ice jam that has been causing flooding in the area for the last month.