A Tyneside timber garden buildings manufacturer has suffered a major fire which it says has destroyed its sawmill.
The blaze, which is being investigated, occurred at Oakenclough Buildings Ltd near the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate in North Shields.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service told TTJ that the fire in the early hours of Wednesday July 8, saw 10 fire appliances attend.
“An Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) and a Command Support Vehicle also attended. Outbuildings, materials, and machinery were damaged during the incident, “it said.
“No persons were in need of rescue during the incident,” it added.
Oakenclough Buildings, established over 40 years ago, posted a message on social media, thanking people for their support and describing the extent of the damage.
“The fire spread incredibly fast and just wouldn’t stop,” the company states.
“Timber was all it needed, and within a short time our sawmill was gone. We still don’t know what caused the fire, but we will find out soon.
“To everyone who has reached out, offered support, and sent kind messages – thank you. It means more than words can express during this difficult time.
“Although we’ve lost our sawmill, we are not giving up. From today, our focus will be on what we do best: building high-quality timber sheds, log cabins, summer houses, and other timber buildings.
“We are still here. We are still open. And we will keep moving forward.”
Oakenclough Buildings is led by director Glen Brady and employs 13 staff. It manufactures a wide range of timber structures, including log cabins, garages, gazebos, custom buildings, fencing and decking.
It has two UK showrooms and has sold 20,000 timber garden sheds to date.
