UPDATE: September 7th, 2010 6:17PM

The Warren Township Volunteer Fire Department and mutual aid fire departments responded to a sawmill fire in Washington County and were able to knock it down within minutes, according to officials.

Shortly after 1 p.m. the Warren Township Volunteer Fire Department received a call of sawmill fire on Turkeyhen Road in Watertown Township.

Warren Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Wile says he new he needed to call for mutual aid.

"We were short on responders, so we called for mutual aid from Oak Grove and Barlow," says Chief Wile. "The first truck on scene pulled a hose and started hitting the fire."

Chief Wile says sawmill fires present unique challenges to first responders.

"The first thing is, with the lack of fire hydrants we have to make sure we have plenty of water. Which is another reason we call in mutual aid, so they can bring tankers as well. Secondly, with a sawmill there's a lot of fuel and it's going to take a lot of big water to get it under control or get it out."

Fire crews were able to knock the fire down within minutes.

"The knock down came probably within five minutes," Chief Wile adds. "Some of the fire is in the mulch pile. When fire gets down in mulch it gets kind of hard to extinguish. So, we use some foam to put on there to help put it out."

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but officials believe it was started by the motor of a piece of equipment.
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Several Washington County Volunteer fire departments have been called to the scene of a large fire in Watertown Township.

Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks says the fire began in some mulch and has gotten out of control. The units were called to the scene shortly after 1 P.M.

It is known the Warren, Barlow and Oak Grove fire departments have been called out. There was no immediate word as to whether there have been injuries.

Stay tuned to WTAP News and our web channel for more details.