SAINT JOHN, N. B. — Atlantic Canada’s beleaguered forestry industry took another shot this week as J. D. Irving Ltd. announced the closure of two sawmills — one in PEI and another in Maine, reports Canadian Press.

Employees at the Georgetown, P. E. I. and Nashville Plantation facilities were informed of the closures over the last 24 hours.
A fire on Monday that destroyed the planer mill in Nashville Plantation expedited the closure of that operation, a company spokeswoman told CP.

Although some think the worst is over, the lumber sector — the West included — continues to see soft market conditions such as high energy costs, a weak U.S. dollar and shrinking southbound loads.