Firefighters battled a blaze at a wood treatment plant in Bosley for more than four hours this morning.
It is thought the fire at Wood Treatment Ltd was sparked at 7am by an electric motor in a storage silo containing wood flour - used to make linoleum.
Andrew Lowden, managing director, said: "There is water and fire damage and we haven't been allowed in to assess it yet but we could be looking at a six-figure sum for repairs.
"I noticed the smoke this morning when I was doing a round of the plant. We tried to put it out ourselves but realised it was too much and called the fire service."
He added: "Wood flour doesn't burn with flames, which is why you can't see much fire, it just smoulders."
Smoke was visible coming from the top of the mill, which employs 50 staff.
Four appliances were at the scene using hose reels and a hydraulic platform.
