Updated at 10:45 a.m.
Damage at a lumber yard north of Listowel is being pegged at over $4 million after a fire ripped through it overnight.
North Perth fire crews were called to J.H. Keeso on Highway 23 around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and arrived at the inferno.
Eyewitnesses said the fire could be seen from half-a-kilometer away. Crews and equipment from Minto, Mapleton, West Perth, and Perth East assisted.
"The amount of flame that you could see visible right from Listowel itself," said North Perth Assistant Fire Chief Jason Benn. "We showed up here, it was fully engulfed. Our crews went to work and tried to fight it as best we could but it was a complete loss."
As of 10:30 a.m. Monday, firefighters were still dousing hot spots and have pumped 1.3 million litres of water since starting the to fight the fire last night.
An insurance investigator is expected on the scene 2 p.m. Monday.
Most of the main building at the site was also destroyed.
The OPP re-opened a section of Highway 23 north of Listowel around 7 a.m. Monday.
