More than 60 firefighters were unable to save a rendering plant south of Listowel on Friday, but were able to stop the flames from destroying the entire operation of Atwood Resources.

The flames broke out around 1:45 a.m., at the Highway 23 facility.

From her home a kilometre away, Sarah Nuhn heard two loud bangs, followed by sirens, and then went outside to investigate.

“You could see smoke in the sky, even though it was (night),” she said.

“You could see it as if you were standing right in front of it. It was lighting up the entire sky.”

All three North Perth fire stations responded to the fire, as did three stations from neighbouring departments.

“When they did arrive on scene, the fire was well advanced – through the roof of the main part of the building,” North Perth fire chief Ed Smith told CTV News.

As the morning wore on, tanker trucks were shuttled in an out – having to reload with water from a hydrant in Listowel and a reservoir in Monkton.

In the afternoon, investigators from the Office of the Fire Marshal showed up and equipment was brought in to begin demolishing the remnants of the building.

A newer portion of the Atwood Resources operation was saved from the flames.

Calling Friday the saddest day of his life, company owner Dave Smith nonetheless was making plans to resume normal operations and begin rebuilding the plant.

“You gotta pick yourself back up and get going again,” he said.

“As soon as we get our phones back up and running again, call us and we’ll give you service.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Damage is estimated as being in the millions.