THUNDER BAY -- A fire at a local sawmill sent flames high into the late night sky. Thunder Bay Rescue firefighters were called to the blaze at the Resolute Forest Products sawmill on Darrell Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

THUNDER BAY -- A fire at a local sawmill sent flames high into the late night sky.

Thunder Bay Rescue firefighters were called to the blaze at the Resolute Forest Products sawmill on Darrell Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

In a release, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue says the first crews arrived to find a sawdust bin fully involved in flames. A second alarm was initiated and firefighters spent approximately four hours trying to contain the blaze, using an aerial ladder to soak the material in the bin, eventually dumping the contents on the ground, allowing for the flames to then be quickly doused.

"Resolute staff members were key in getting the hydraulics to work after they were compromised by intense heat. Once the bin was dumped on the ground the remainder of the fire was quickly extinguished," the release says.

Flames could be seen rising above the top of the containers.

The extent of the damage is not yet known.

It was a busy night for firefighters, who also responded to a vehicle fire on Hardisty Street. The flames were quickly extinguished and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.