The owner of the Red Mill lumberyard in Casco said he will have no problem staying open for business despite the loss of the main sawmill to a fire late last month.

“This is the heart and soul of the whole place,” Schott said while standing where the sawmill once stood. The Nov. 25 fire did not spread to any other buildings.

Fire crews from Naples, Raymond, Otisfield and Poland helped the Casco Fire Department control the blaze at the lumberyard located near the intersection of Route 302 and Brown Avenue. Casco Fire Chief John Small said the fire started around 11:25 p.m. and was under control within two hours.

Owner Kermit Schott said the fire was caused by electrical wiring, not the piles of wood and sawdust inside the building.

“These things are nothing but miles of wire inside,” Schott said.

The Red Mill provided finished lumber, rough cut lumber, and building supplies to contractors and do-it-yourselfers. It’s been a Casco landmark for decades.

Schott said the fire has caused him to temporarily lay off four of his 10 employees until a new sawmill is constructed. Workers poured cement for the new building this week and will be installing the trusses in a few days. Schott expects the building to be completed in three months.

Red Mill employee Robin Flanigan of Casco is confident the business will bounce back.

“It’s going to take a while to rebuild this, but we’ll be fine,” Flanigan said.

Schott purchased the Red Mill lumberyard in 1997 from Ivan Chute. The sawmill was 25 years old, Schott said.

RedMill1: Phil Strout of Gray and Frank Farwell of Standish saw the wooden framework of the new sawmill being built upon the foundation of the one that burned on Nov. 25 at the Red Mill lumberyard in Casco. Fresh cement was poured into the framework when it was completed. In back from left are Mindy Schott, Jenness Robbins and owner Kermit Schott.RedMill2: Phil Strout of Gray and Frank Farwell of Standish saw the wooden framework of the new sawmill being built upon the foundation of the one that burned on Nov. 25 at the Red Mill lumberyard in Casco. Fresh cement was poured into the framework when it was completed. Construction is expected to continue through the winter months and be completed in early March.RedMill3: Kermit Schott and his wife Mindy stand where the main sawmill of his lumberyard stood. Schott said the Nov. 25 fire that destroyed the mill won’t stop his business, the Red Mill, from staying open.RedMill4, RedMill5, RedMill6: Jenness Robbins and Red Mill owner Kermit Schott talk on the burnt foundation where the Red Mill’s main sawmill stood before the Nov. 25 fire. Robbins is the owner of Robbins Lumber Company in Searmont where Schott used to work.RedMill4, RedMill5, RedMill6: Jenness Robbins and Red Mill owner Kermit Schott talk on the burnt foundation where the Red Mill’s main sawmill stood before the Nov. 25 fire. Robbins is the owner of Robbins Lumber Company in Searmont where Schott used to work.RedMill4, RedMill5, RedMill6: Jenness Robbins and Red Mill owner Kermit Schott talk on the burnt foundation where the Red Mill’s main sawmill stood before the Nov. 25 fire. Robbins is the owner of Robbins Lumber Company in Searmont where Schott used to work.RedMill7: Despite the loss of the main sawmill to a fire last month, Red Mill owner Kermit Schott is keeping the lumberyard open.