Alachua County Fire Rescue and the Newberry Fire Department responded to Southern Fuelwood in Newberry on Wednesday morning, extinguishing a blaze in one of the kilns the company uses to treat firewood for sale.  

The company has come under fire by the county fire chief because of frequent calls for aid—with a June incident resulting in two injuries. Southern Fuelwood has had at least 13 fires in the past two and a half years, more than one every three months.  

After an August fire, Newberry Fire Chief Mike Vogel said the business has sat with fire responders to reduce fires and increase safety. The company is pursuing a new sprinkler system and has water tanks installed at the site. 

Owner Pat Post told Mainstreet in June that the company must use kilns to treat firewood in accordance with state regulations, and he said he’s invested in the infrastructure to make it as safe as possible.