A fire tore through outbuildings at a North Tyneside timber yard in the early hours of Wednesday, destroying machinery and materials. The blaze at Oakenclough Buildings Ltd on Wallsend Road in North Shields required a major emergency response, with 10 fire appliances from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service tackling the flames. Plumes of smoke were visible for miles, and residents were advised to keep windows and doors shut overnight.
Fire Spread Rapidly, Destroying Sawmill
The fire service was called to the premises shortly before 2am on Wednesday, 8 July. Crews from Byker, Gateshead, Gosforth, Hebburn, Newcastle Central, South Shields, Tynemouth, and West Denton Community Fire Stations attended, along with an Aerial Ladder Platform and a Command Support Vehicle. No one needed rescue, and firefighters left the scene at 6.59am after extinguishing the blaze.
In a statement online, Oakenclough Buildings described a "terrible night," saying: "The fire spread incredibly fast and just wouldn’t stop. Timber was all it needed, and within a short time our sawmill was gone." The family-run firm, which designs and builds garden buildings like sheds and sun rooms, thanked the public for supportive messages.
Business Vows to Continue Operations
Despite the loss, the company affirmed its resilience: "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."
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the fire is under investigation. A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed that outbuildings, materials, and machinery were damaged. Northumbria Police assisted with traffic management and reported no injuries. A police spokesperson said: "At 2.15am today, we were made aware by the fire service of a fire at a premises on Wallsend Road in North Shields. Emergency services attended and the fire was later extinguished. No-one is reported to have been injured."
