"We'll be up and running as soon as possible"

Fire destroys building, equipment, but not business

All employees showed up to work Friday morning as the rubble smoldered

Clint Hepler said he has had this dream before where his business caught on fire, "but I always woke up." Standing with his brother and friends looking at the wreckage from Thursday night fire, Clint, a third generation owner of Seneca Hardwoods in Rockland Township knew Friday afternoon this was no dream. His grandfather, the late Clinton Hepler, bought the company 60 years ago and the family has since turned it into strong national hardwood floor manufacturer.

When Hepler got the call around 8 p.m. Thursday, he hoped he would be able to get to the business and put out whatever fire he found. "When I got over the hill I saw the mushroom cloud of smoke," he said at that point he knew he was at the mercy of the fire departments.

He watched helpless for 20 or so minutes before the first trucks arrived, he said. Water was an issue out at the remote business a couple miles off Route 322. Ponds and streams were used as dozens of tankers rotated in and out of the scene. Hepler said the fire departments did an amazing job to save as much of the business as they could.
Hepler lost several pieces of machinery and the large building is a total loss, but several buildings were saved. "We're very grateful for all the firefighters sticking around all night, it could've been much worse." he said.

​He said no one was in the building at the time and no one was hurt.

Friday morning all of his employees showed up for work. "It shows the quality of workers we have," Hepler said. "We'll be up and running as soon as possible." Hepler said he employs around 15 full-time workers.

Hepler said he has some equipment coming Monday and as soon as he can get it hooked up safely, the business will be up and running. He says no one will be laid off and there is work to be done."Everybody needs a paycheck," he said.