Woodfab Timber “open for business” after fire

Irish sawmiller Woodfab Timber is “open for business” despite the main production line being extensively damaged by fire last weekend.

The company’s added-value lines, including kilns, treatment plant and planing line, were not affected by the fire and export manager John Colclough told TTJ that production would continue.

The company, based in Aughrim, Co Wicklow, has about a month’s stock in the yard and would buy sawn timber from other mills.

“We will buy timber from anywhere,” said Mr Colclough. “We’re very thankful that we have had a lot of offers; there’s a lot of goodwill out there.”

The fire broke out in the main production line in the early hours of Sunday morning and it took firefighters 10 hours to extinguish the blaze. It was initially thought to be suspicious, and possibly linked to another fire in the town, but investigators have now ruled out arson.

During the past nine months Woodfab has exported around 70-80% of production to the UK and Mr Colclough said he was “very encouraged” by the reaction from customers and by the support from other Irish mills.

Although production will be reduced and some job losses are expected, the company was “open for business”, he said.

“We’ve taken a bit of a hit but we’re a long way from down,” he said.

Enterprise Ireland senior development adviser Willie Fitzgerald welcomed the news that Woodfab continued to trade.

“It’s heartening to see the response from Coillte and from fellow Irish sawmills – all of whom have contacted managing director John Brady personally and offered any assistance he needs to overcome this development,” he said.