Timber business fighting on
A month after huge fire caused about $1.5 million in damage to a Taranaki timber business, the company is rising from the ashes.
The fire at Inglewood Timber Processors, on the corner of Kelly and Cutfield streets, broke out about 4.45pm on Tuesday, December 17.
Eleven fire appliances from around the region took two hours to get the blaze under control.
Manager and shareholder Mark Jackson said they were now aiming for an opening date at the end of March.
‘‘Even though we’ve had it burned down, we’ve had a little bit of luck go our way,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m a lot further ahead than I thought I would be, especially being middle of January and everyone’s away.’’
Jackson said he had yet to see the final report into the cause of the fire, and also did not yet know the final cost of damage, ‘‘maybe $1.5 (million) plus’’.
The site makes a range of products, including door cores for Australia and scaffolding planks.
The front of the building collapsed at the height of the blaze and repair work has involved removing fire damaged parts of the site.
About 95 per cent of the demolition is finished and on Monday builders started repair work.
Some building materials have been ordered and some will be made on-site and put up.
The company also has new machinery coming from overseas.
‘‘We’re time critical. We’ve got customers in Australia that need our products.’’
The 12 staff are off work but being paid, and may come in and help with some clean-up or painting or other jobs, Jackson said.
‘‘We’re lucky we’ve got all our insurances in place so the boys can effectively stay at home till we open, but I’ll be getting them back in.’’
There are still decisions to be made as they navigate the reopening process, Jackson said, but the community support had been ‘‘brilliant’’.
‘‘The local community and bits and pieces have been really really good.
‘‘We’ll come out of this bigger and better. It was no good at the time but when we’ve finished we’ll have a good business back again.’’