By 3 p.m., new lumber was already going up to replace the 32×75-foot building in the same spot as before.

The scene at 1497 East End Mountain Road was a mix of heavy equipment and hand tools as burned timbers were cleared away and new building supplies were delivered, unloaded and put to use.

The property includes the home of Katie Stoltzfus and her business, East End Greenhouse, which she reportedly owns with her daughters. A variety of buildings, including greenhouses, sit close to each other. One of the greenhouses was so close, it was endangered by the flames.

A quick response is credited with saving everything except the furnace building.

AMBER MORRIS/THE EXPRESS A number of fire companies responded Monday morning to a furnace fire that destroyed a building on the same property as East End Greenhouse in the Mill Hall area.

According to Lamar Township Deputy Chief Pat Steinbacher, the fire began with the furnace which produces heat for the greenhouses. Despite the efforts of those who first noticed the blaze to control  it with fire extinguishers, it quickly spread into the beams and walls, he said. The furnace room contained large amounts of wood chips as fuel for the stove, causing the fire to burn hot and fast.

“It was fully involved when our first responders from Lamar Township got to the scene, but due to a rapid response from our station, and the other fire companies, we got to it in time, and prevented it from spreading to the other structures,” Steinbacher said.

The cause seemed to be a malfunctioning control valve on the chip-burning furnace, according to a gentleman at the scene who wished not to be named.

Lamar Township, Sugar Valley, Nittany Valley, Castanea, Dunnstown, Woolrich, Mill Hall, and Beech Creek/Blanchard fire companies all assisted with the blaze. Goodwill Ambulance and Goodwill Medics also responded.

After the fire was knocked down, men and boys from the local Amish community moved with purpose as they worked to get as much as done as possible while it was still daylight.

Sam Fisher, owner of Sam Fisher Plumbing, set up a temporary heating system for the greenhouses, where some plants have already been started for the coming growing season.

Many hands make light work, as one of them said Monday.

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Express Community Editor Wendy Stiver, wstiver@lockhaven.com, contributed to this story.