When first responders in Slocomb and Malvern got a page indicating a fire at the Long lumber yard just east of Slocomb High School, they feared the worst.

“Luckily for us, it was held to just two little rooms” Said Slocomb firefighter Scott Shelton “with our quick response time and our mutual aid from Malvern we were able to knock it out quickly"”

Lumber yard owner Alfred Long said the fire could have been a result of sparks from a welder igniting part of the wood floor in the mill, and now he credits the existence of his yard..to the firefighters.

"it's a very clean mill it appeared that the fire started from a spark from the welder...they responded real quickly and got the fire out."

And as the worst case scenario was avoided, Shelton told news four what could have happened.

You know, being a saw mill it would have had major flames, and the owner wouldn't have a business"