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Reward Offered For Info Leading To Cause of Raging Russell Paper Mill Fire

A $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can provide information that helps lead to who set the Strathmore Paper Mill fire in June.

A fire ripped through the closed Strathmore Paper Mill in Russell in June. The fire is still under investigation and a $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the cause.

A fire ripped through the closed Strathmore Paper Mill in Russell in June. The fire is still under investigation and a $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the cause.

Photo Credit: Russell Police Department
A fire ripped through the closed Strathmore Paper Mill in Russell in June. The fire is still under investigation and a $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the cause.

A fire ripped through the closed Strathmore Paper Mill in Russell in June. The fire is still under investigation and a $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the cause.

Photo Credit: Russell Police Department
A fire ripped through the closed Strathmore Paper Mill in Russell in June. The fire is still under investigation and a $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the cause.

A fire ripped through the closed Strathmore Paper Mill in Russell in June. The fire is still under investigation and a $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the cause.

Photo Credit: Russell Police

State and local police and fire officials have been investigating the cause of the blaze since it erupted like a volcano, Friday, June 19, at 34 Valley View Ave.

The fire tore through the empty, sprawling mill complex, requiring the work of 120 emergency personnel to extinguish. A month later, the mill still smells like smoke.

The Arson Watch Reward Program is offering $5,000 to anyone who can provide information that will lead to the cause of the mysterious fire.

In particular, Arson Watch is seeking security or dashboard video was taken, 6-9 p.m. on June 19 along the following roadways:

Woronoco Road, Russell;

Route 20 West to the VFW, Russell;

Route 20 East to the Four Mile Store, Westfield;

Route 23 West to the Blandford town line.

The fire is considered suspicious.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229. The reward is being funded by an association of Massachusetts insurance companies. 

The property belongs to Jacob Trudeau, of Pittsfield, purchased Mill Building #2 from Russell in 2019 for $15,000. Trudeau transferred the property to an LLC he manages, Strathmore Holdings, on July 24. 

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