(Update: Sept. 23, 2014, Cascades announced that operations resumed partially at the Greenpac and Niagara Falls containerboard mills. Both mills have begun shipping finished products manufactured prior to the fire. Production equipment at the Greenpac mill was not damaged during the fire and the mill is expected to resume normal production within next 48 hours. Start-up of the Norampac mill will not be determined until damage to the stock preparation equipment is fully assessed, the company says.)

Cascades, based in Kingsey Falls, Quebec, Canada, has temporarily closed its Greenpac and Norampac recycled containerboard mills in Niagara Falls, New York, after a fire at the mills, Sept. 20, 2014, caused damage to both facilities.

According to Cascades, the fire began in a section of one of the plants that houses bales of old corrugated containers (OCC). There were no injuries from the fire and local authorities are investing to determine the cause.

The paper company says as of late afternoon Sept. 22 the fire was under control. However, there was some damage to both mills. Damage to the Greenpac mill has been limited to the OCC stockpile and the OCC conveyor. Damage to the Norampac mill, while more extensive, has been limited to the OCC stockpile, a pulper and a stock preparation area, the company says.

As of Sept. 22 Cascades said it was too early to determine when either mill would resume production.

The Norampac mill makes 100-percent-recycled corrugated medium and has around 137 employees. The Cascades Greenpac mill manufactures 100-percent-recycled linerboard.

Cascades has a 59 percent stake in the Greenpac mill with three other partners owning the other 41 percent. The mill started production in July 2013.