A fire has disrupted production at the Minas Basis Pulp and Power in Hantsport, Nova Scotia.

The fire department was called in at 4am. The main blaze was quickly extinguished, but now the fire is burning paper bales in the paper storage area and has proven to be more stubborn.

"The paper is the paper made for the print industry and it's stacked up in large rolls. Much like a bale of hay, it's packed tight," Hantsport Fire Chief Paul Maynard said. "Fire gets burning in between the stacks of paper, it certainly has potential for huge problems for our firefighters once we start putting water on it."

One employee has been treated for smoke inhalation. The day shift has been sent home.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. The production line has not been damaged, so production is expected to resume tomorrow.

Minas Basis Pulp and Power, founded by the late Roy A. Joudrey in 1927, produces 100% recycled paperboard products such as linerboard and coreboard.

Sources:
Fire halts production at Minas Basis Pulp and Power in Hantsport (Chronicle Herald)
Minas Basin Pulp warehouse damaged by fire (Chronicle Herald)