Crews battled a fire at the Abitibi-Consolidated newsprint mill in central Newfoundland on Tuesday night, as residents worried about the impact of the blaze.

It took crews more than four hours to bring a fire at the Abitibi-Consolidated mill under control.It took crews more than four hours to bring a fire at the Abitibi-Consolidated mill under control.
(CBC)
No one was hurt as firefighters from Grand Falls-Windsor and neighbouring communities took more than four hours to subdue a fire that broke out near the larger of the mill's two papermaking machines.

Bill Brown, a mill manager, told CBC News on Wednesday that the machine will be out of production for two to three days.

Brown said heavy smoke has delayed a final assessment of the damage. He said repairs started immediately.

Firefighters on the scene described the blaze, the second since April, as serious.

"It was a big one," said fire Chief Vince MacKenzie.

Vince MacKenzie, the chief of the Grand Falls-Windsor fire department, described the blaze as stubborn.Vince MacKenzie, the chief of the Grand Falls-Windsor fire department, described the blaze as stubborn.
(CBC)
"Crews … were reporting heavy smoke, to the point where you really couldn't see your hand in front of your face, so it was really quite treacherous for a little while."

Production continued Tuesday night in other parts of the newsprint mill.

Abitibi-Consolidated officials are expected to comment Wednesday on the impact of the mill fire.

Grand Falls-Windsor Mayor Rex Barnes said anything that may threaten the mill, where Abitibi-Consolidated has been trying to prune millions of dollars in operating costs, is a serious concern.

'If people tell you they're concerned for the viability of Abitibi and other businesses in the community, they are right,' Mayor Rex Barnes says.'If people tell you they're concerned for the viability of Abitibi and other businesses in the community, they are right,' Mayor Rex Barnes says.
(CBC)
"If people tell you they're concerned for the viability of Abitibi and other businesses in the community, they are right," Barnes said.

"Abitibi needs to stay strong. They put millions of dollars into the economy, and you can't just lose that and continue on."

Jack Sweeney, who had worked at the mill for 41 years, was one of many residents who watched crews tackle the fire. He said he is worried about the shape of the mill and its fate.

"It's hard to tell. This mill hasn't been A1 for the last few years so God knows what could happen," he said.

Firefighters worked through the night putting out hotspots.