Like a Good Neighbor, Canada is There To Help Put Out Ethan Allen Factory Fire
The longer term impact of the fire is not yet known, but the bond between the borders is stronger than ever.
BEECHER FALLS, Vt. – A massive fire engulfed the historic Ethan Allen lumber plant in this small village late Monday night, casting an orange glow against the darkened sky and threatening the economic lifeblood of the community. The blaze, which raged through Tuesday, drew a remarkable international response, with fire crews from across Vermont, neighboring New Hampshire, and Canada converging on the scene to battle the inferno.
The fire reportedly broke out at the sprawling lumber facility on the evening of Monday, June 23, 2025. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but video from the scene showed immense clouds of smoke pouring from the buildings. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. As of Wednesday, no official reports of injuries have been released.
The firefight was a testament to cross-border cooperation. The local Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Department was quickly joined by at least five other departments, including a significant contingent from Colebrook, New Hampshire. As the scale of the fire became apparent, Canadian crews from Quebec were also called in to provide crucial support, creating a unified command to tackle the sprawling industrial site.
A major challenge for the firefighters was the immense demand for water. Officials in the Town of Canaan, which includes the village of Beecher Falls, reported that battling the blaze used up a significant portion of the local water supply. Residents in Beecher Falls and the adjacent area of Riverside were warned to expect reduced water pressure and discolored water for several days and were asked to conserve water to help the system recover.
A Blow to the Heart of a Company Town
For Beecher Falls, a small, unincorporated village in the town of Canaan nestled against the Canadian and New-Hampshire borders, the fire is more than just a structural loss; it is a direct blow to its identity and economic stability. The Ethan Allen plant, in one form or another, has been the town's largest employer and economic engine for over a century.
Founded in 1895 as the Beecher Falls Manufacturing Company, the factory was once the largest furniture manufacturer east of Michigan. Ethan Allen, then a new company, acquired the factory in 1936, making it one of its first and most important manufacturing hubs. For generations, the rhythms of life in this remote corner of the Northeast Kingdom have been tied to the sounds of the mill.
"This plant is the heart of this town," said a lifelong resident watching the smoke from a safe distance. "Our fathers and grandfathers worked there. If it's gone, what's left for us?"
The company had already downsized its Beecher Falls operations in 2009, closing the main furniture assembly unit and laying off over 200 workers, a move that sent economic shockwaves through the region. However, the sawmill and lumber dimensioning mill remained, providing dozens of critical, well-paying jobs and a vital link in Ethan Allen's North American supply chain, where it manufactures roughly 75% of its products.
An Uncertain Path to Recovery
As the smoke begins to clear, a profound uncertainty hangs over the community. The immediate path to recovery will involve a complex investigation into the fire's origin and a thorough assessment of the structural and environmental damage.
The long-term recovery, however, hinges on a single, critical question: Will Ethan Allen rebuild?
The decision from the company's corporate headquarters in Danbury, Connecticut, will determine the future of Beecher Falls. Rebuilding the specialized lumber facility would be a massive capital investment. For the area to recover, it would likely require a significant commitment from the company, potentially supported by state and federal economic aid.
Should the company decide to consolidate its operations elsewhere, the loss of the remaining jobs and the plant's tax revenue would be a devastating blow to the town of Canaan and the surrounding region, which already struggles with limited employment opportunities.
For now, the residents of this resilient border town can only wait, watching the last wisps of smoke rise from a plant that has defined their past and now holds the key to their future. The unified force of firefighters from three nations demonstrated a powerful commitment to a shared community; the hope is that a similar commitment will be shown to rebuilding it.
Vermont, and Quebec are not the only good friends along our mutual border between Canada, and the USA. Between Maine, and New Brunswick is the St. John River. The French Acadian families, and some of English descent were cut into two when Lord Ashburton, and Dan'l Webster drew the demarkation line in 1845. Down through the decades people adjusted, and found ways to deal with that pesky border line, and the people working on it. One time people in a fire department saw a fire breakout in the back of a building facing the Canadian town's fire department across the street! The Maine firemen immediately got into their trucks and dashed over the bridge to put out the fire which still was not seen by the fire department across the street. Customs officials just got out of the way when they saw the trucks coming down the bridge. Both companies worked together to put out the fire. Another time there was a massive fire in a Canadian town on the border. It destroyed several apartments in which people with very minimal incomes lived. Within a very short period of time people from Maine began driving to the Canadian town with all sorts of supplies--clothing, household goods, appliances, whatever would be needed. The customs officials told the drivers of those vehicles how to get to the place where those itens would be passed out to the unfortunate people. Welcomed them, thanked them. The comraderie between the two countries has gone on for decades. Let us hope that Trump's policies, i. e. his tariffs, and other attitudes do not destroy this wonderful friendship. Trump needs to cease with his idea of making Canada the 51st state. He needs to show respect to Canadians. Even Putin could learn from this reality which is a far better deal than complete domination of a neighbor.