PIGEON, Mich. — A fire tore through a building at the L J Gascho Furniture Co. facility near Pigeon, Michigan, early Friday morning, Jan. 9, destroying a structure that housed key finishing and robotics operations and damaging a neighboring building.
More than 10 fire departments responded to the blaze, which was reported shortly after 3 a.m., according to local authorities cited by WJRT. Fire officials said the fire was contained to the building used for robotic finishing processes, preventing further spread across the campus. No employees were present at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.
The destroyed structure contained robotics systems used to treat and finish furniture products. An adjacent building sustained damage during firefighting efforts, though the extent of that damage has not yet been fully detailed.
According to the company’s website, the Pigeon facility is one of the largest solid wood finishing operations in the United States. The site plays a central role in the company’s manufacturing network, supporting both custom and production furniture lines distributed nationwide.
Founded in 1986 by Lyle J. Gascho, LJ Gascho Furniture has expanded significantly since its beginnings in a small Pigeon workshop. The company now operates a network of more than 40 Amish and Mennonite sub-shops across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, supplying furniture components and finished products to retailers across the country.
Over the years, the Pigeon facility has evolved from modest staining operations — once conducted in a converted “chicken coop” — into a large-scale finishing center equipped with modern automation and robotics. The company expanded its offerings beyond dining furniture in 2010, adding a full bedroom line that includes both traditional and contemporary designs.
Today, the Gascho Furniture operation in Pigeon employs more than 80 workers and remains a key production hub for the company’s growing retail footprint.
The cause of the fire has not yet been announced, and officials have not provided a timeline for repairs or resumption of operations in the affected buildings. Company representatives have not released additional details regarding potential impacts on production schedules or delivery timelines.
Originally reported by Larry Adams in Wood Working Network.
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