Damage was estimated at nearly $500,000 after fire tore through a Webster County sawmill the night of the 6th. Crews were sawing lumber at the Jim C. Hamer operation at Curtin when the fire erupted in the lower level around 7:30 p.m.

"We’re not sure right now what caused the fire, but we know it got into the hydraulic system and burned the hydraulic lines in two," said Don McCourt, fire chief for the Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department, according to a WCHS radio online interview. "We probably had between 300 and 400 gallons of hydraulic oil on fire in the lower level of the mill." The fire spread into the second level of the mill and consumed about one-third of the building. McCourt said flames were shooting high into the air when firefighters rolled up to the scene. "They just saw smoke and all of the sudden there were flames shooting up by them," he said.

The damage consumed several pieces of saw equipment along with the debarker and the structure that housed the mill. The mill has been a major operation and a key employer in the region. One worker suffered a burn to his arm and was treated and released at the hospital. Investigators and company officials were back on the scene the following day evaluating damages and searching for a cause.

With the final stroke of his pen, Gov. Tomblin brought to a conclusion a legislative session that was historic in terms of jobs, economic development and the future of education in West Virginia. In their 60-days of work, the Legislature enacted new laws of tremendous interest to WVFA members. They include:

Legal Reform
- Comparative Fault
- Deliberate Intent
- Punitive Damage Limits
- Nonpartisan election of the Judiciary
- Real property possessor's liability for trespassing
- Open & Obvious doctrine for premises liability

Human Resources
- Wage Payment & Collection Act
- Bi-monthly pay periods
- Unmitigated front pay

Better Business Climate
- Elimination of straight ticket voting
- Prevailing wage rate
- Amending Aboveground Storage Tank Act