Vastern Timber owns Studely Sawmills near Calne in Wiltshire, the fire started just ater 10am and is believed to have been caused by a fault with an extractor and spread to a storage unit.
The company had partly resumed limited operations following updated government guidelines for manufacturers at its sawmills after being closed for several weeks due to the coronavirus crisis.
“Early on May 13, a fire at the sawmill damaged a sawdust extraction unit and part of the roof of the manufacturing yard,” Tom Barnes, managing director of Vastern Timber, told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald.
"The fire was quickly under control thanks to the rapid response of emergency services and no-one was hurt during the incident. We have thanked the firefighters and we appreciate that this has caused disruption to our local community and we thank them for their support. We are determined to repair the fire damage and get back to work safely as soon as we can.
“Thankfully the fire has had no impact on our stock or machinery but it means that we have to close the Studley sawmill for a week or two. Our Wootton Bassett sawmill is unaffected, and we are able to fulfil orders from this site."
Fourth-generation family firm Vastern employs 50 people and operates two sawmills, at Wootton Bassett and Studley producing timber cladding, flooring, planks and beams from British grown wood.
Vastern is also planning to build a solar-powered production unit at the Wootton Bassett site for its Brimstone branded thermally-modified timber cladding and decking.
“These plans may be delayed by the coronavirus but I’m optimistic that in the near future these plans will progress,” Mr Barnes added.
“I want to say thank you to our team and our customers for their patience and support in these last few weeks. I look forward to welcoming customers back to our showroom as soon as possible, and meanwhile we’ll do our best to deliver in the current circumstances.”
The showroom remains closed but is taking orders by phone or email.
