By Evita Garza | KEZI | Sept 18, 2020
**This story originally appeared on KEZI
ROSEBURG, Ore. — Local timber companies are stepping up to help firefighters as they battle the Archie Creek Fire.
Lone Rock Resources, based in Roseburg, sent 50 of their operational employees to fight the fire when it started last Tuesday.
Staff said they’ve also sent more than 20 pieces of their own equipment to help firefighters secure fire lines and cool hotspots.
Company president Toby Luther said many of their employees had some fire training before they were sent out.
“In situations like this when the state and federal resources are spread so thin, if we didn’t have those industrial resources, we would have so many more losses in those communities,” he said.
Luther said he is proud of their employees for the work they’ve done so far. With limited resources around the state, he said they will be fighting this fire as long as they’re needed to.
“Ten of our own employees had their families evacuated,” he said. “So, in some cases, guys were out fighting fires during the day and going home and helping their neighbors protect their homes at night.”
Luther said there are multiple timber companies working alongside them, including Seneca Joes Timber Company and Roseburg Forest Products.
