Potlatch Plant To Close

A temporary shutdown of Potlatch’s Clearwater Lumber Mill will leave about 340 employees out of work for four weeks beginning this weekend.

The decision to close the mill was based on market conditions for white fir lumber, which is used to build homes.

The temporary closure will include hourly and salaried workers. They will be allowed to take vacation time during the shutdown.

The shutdown is not connected with the companywide reduction of salaried workers that is expected to start the week of June 5.

“We will continue to review all operations, but there are no current plans to curtail operations anywhere else,” said Dan Johansen, vice president of the company’s Western Wood Products Division.