The heat gun was left atop a pallet of combustible materials inside a walk-in freezer, leading to the fire Thursday that damaged offices and a production area at Gifford's Famous Ice Cream, according to Skowhegan fire Chief Ronnie Rodriguez.
An executive for Gifford's Famous Ice Cream said the fire began Thursday in a processing area where milk and cream is mixed as part of the production of the company's well-known ice cream flavors.
The Town Council gave preliminary approval Monday to consolidating the operations as part of a cost-saving move other towns such as Hampden have adopted.