Fire, Monday afternoon, destroyed the McNab Flour Mills Ltd. causing a loss conservatively placed at $150,000. Only a small amount of stock kept in a shed at the east end of the mill was saved. The office and all records were in a separate building on the south side and this too was not damaged. The building, equipment and contents, was only partially covered by insurance. Cause of the fire is not known.

The fire was discovered shortly before one o'clock by Wilf Chamney on his return from lunch. As Mr. Chamney opened the door into the mill he was met by a sheet of flame.

The Volunteer Fire Brigade responded quickly to the alarm, but despite determined efforts, were unable to save the 42 year old structure. It was at first hoped that the 22,000 bushel capacity elevator could be saved, but the flames gradually crept back through the warehouse which separated the mill proper from the elevator and at 8:30 p.m. the elevator was considered lost.

In addition to the equipment, much of which was replaced during recent years, the building contained a large amount of flour, feed and supplies. The elevator contained about 15,000 bushels of wheat which was still burning Wednesday.

The fire appeared to have started in or near the machinery section or laboratory which were close together on the ground floor, but no reason for its start could be given. The flames spread quickly through the metal covered frame building and inside an hour the mill proper

The 17 volunteer firemen under Fire Chief Ron Cameron employed six lines in fighting the fire but were hampered by insufficient pressure. The mill was at the extreme western limit of the water system and due to the distance from the water tower, it was not possible to get more than 50 pounds of pressure in the lines.

The nature of the building also made fire fighting extremely difficult. Corridors and shafts caused drafts and the combustible dust from milling operations over the years added to the fierceness of the fire.

McNab Flour Mills Ltd. was established in 1913 by the late A.P. McNab, former lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan. His son, E.J. McNab, is president and manager of milling operations. James L. Patterson, a pioneer in the Western Canada milling industry, is vice president and general manager of the firm. Mr. Patterson came to Humboldt with Hon. A.P. McNab when the latter sold the Saskatoon Milling Company to the Quaker Oats Co. in 1912 and the machinery was moved to Humboldt.

The mill was one of three surviving independent mills in the province and its loss will mean a serious blow to the business life of Humboldt. A staff of nine was employed at the mill.

At present no decision has been made as to whether the mill will be rebuilt or not. Mr. Chamney informed The Journal Wednesday that he intends to carry on a flour and livestock feed business in Humboldt.