Massive Lumber Fire Engulfs Pallet Factory Near Orrville

Firefighters from 24 departments battled the blaze for nearly 6 hours, using aerial trucks and thousands of gallons of water.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:39pm

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A dramatic landscape painting in muted earth tones, with a large wooden structure consumed by an intense fire in the distance, surrounded by thick plumes of dark smoke rising into an ominous, cloudy sky, conveying the overwhelming power and scale of the natural disaster.A massive fire at a rural pallet factory exposes the vulnerability of industrial facilities to devastating natural disasters.Orrville Today

A large fire broke out at a wooden pallet manufacturing business just south of Orrville, Ohio on Saturday evening. The fire at Southwood Lumber Pallet brought in firefighters from 24 different departments, who worked for nearly 6 hours to extinguish the blaze. The roof of the building collapsed shortly after crews arrived, and they used aerial trucks and an estimated half-a-million gallons of water to battle the intense fire fueled by the large amount of stored wood.

Why it matters

Fires at industrial facilities like lumber yards and pallet factories pose a significant risk due to the highly flammable nature of the materials. The large response from multiple fire departments highlights the need for coordinated emergency services to handle major incidents, especially in rural areas where resources can be more limited.

The details

The fire started on Saturday evening at the Southwood Lumber Pallet facility on Lincoln Way East just off Route 30 south of Orrville. The Apple Creek East Union Township and Orrville Fire Departments responded, along with crews from 22 other nearby fire departments. The large number of departments was needed to supply enough water to fight the blaze, as the roof of the building collapsed shortly after firefighters arrived. Aerial trucks were used to battle the fire, which had a heavy fuel load from all the stored wood used to manufacture and store pallets.

  • The fire broke out on Saturday evening, April 12, 2026.
  • Firefighters were on the scene for nearly 6 hours battling the blaze.

The players

Southwood Lumber Pallet

A wooden pallet manufacturing business located just south of Orrville, Ohio where the fire occurred.

Apple Creek East Union Township Fire Department

One of the fire departments that responded to the large blaze and assisted in extinguishing the fire.

Orrville Fire Department

One of the fire departments that responded to the large blaze and assisted in extinguishing the fire.

State Fire Marshal's Office

The state agency that is assisting with the investigation into the cause of the fire.

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What’s next

The State Fire Marshal's Office will continue its investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire at the Southwood Lumber Pallet facility.

The takeaway

This large-scale fire at an industrial facility highlights the importance of coordinated emergency response and access to sufficient water resources, especially in rural areas, to effectively combat blazes fueled by highly flammable materials.