Western Forest Products to Expand Fruit Valley Operation, Sell Columbia Vista Sawmill

Western Forest Products has submitted pre-planning documents to the city of Vancouver outlining a proposed expansion of its Fruit Valley manufacturing operation, The Columbian reported (2-26-26). The company currently uses the site for secondary lumber manufacturing.

Plans call for the construction of up to three prefabricated steel buildings and an office building, along with the demolition of existing lumber drying kilns and storage buildings at the site.

In a statement, Western Senior Director of Communications Babita Khunkhun said, “We are supporting a modest expansion of our product and service portfolio.” She added that planning will continue throughout the year and that the company intends to invest in new machinery to produce ready-to-install glulam beams at the facility.

Separately, Khunkhun said a summer fire left the company’s Columbia Vista sawmill beyond repair, prompting Western to move forward with plans to sell the site. Columbia Vista Corp. established the mill in 1952, and Western acquired the company in 2018. The process to sell the land and related assets is already underway.