WESTPHALIA  —  Skidmore Lumber on Hwy. 63  in Westphalia lost a large piece of machinery last Wednesday when it was destroyed by fire.

Westphalia Fire Protection District Chief Jim Roark said the equipment was fully engulfed when his department arrived on the scene at about 7 p.m.

While the cause of the fire is undetermined, Roark said it’s most likely electrical in nature, and once it sparked, the fire used the machine’s hydraulic fluid as fuel.

Firefighters knocked down the blaze in about 10 minutes but remained on the scene for about an hour.

“We soaked the area around the equipment and used thermal imaging to ensure the fire was out before we cleared the scene,” said Roark, noting WFPD disregarded mutual aid once on the scene.

Sheriff Mike Bonham said no foul play is suspected in the incident.