Damage in excess of €2m was caused by a devastating fire that wiped out an industrial unit in Ballylanders on Sunday, leaving the future of over 30 jobs hanging in the balance.
Thankfully there was no loss of life, but the fire has had an horrendous impact on the community.
Business owners are counting the cost of the fire with some of the companies losing everything, leaving them completely out of commission.
Fire crews from Mitchelstown, Kilmallock, Cappamore, Rathkeale and Tipperary Town tackled the blaze for most of Sunday.
The fire left catastrophic losses in its wake which has seriously affected four different companies causing turmoil among families relying on the affected employers for their livelihood.
The owners of the AB Wood Products who have suffered disastrous damages have begun a search for another premises.
The heartbroken owners have vowed to keep the business and jobs in the locality.
AB Wood Products was formed in 2014 when Mareks Beide purchased the Kitchen Door business from Galtee Wood. The business has gone from strength to strength ever since and currently employs 25 staff.
They offer a selection of ready made and bespoke kitchen doors and accessories designed for the Irish and UK markets.
Plans were afoot to expand the company and move to another property in Ballylanders but the devastating fire could now seriously jeopardise the move.
Forensic teams are due to arrive on site in the coming days in order to determine the cause of the fire, but it is understood that foul play has been ruled out.
AB Wood owner Mareks Beide, told The Avondhu that this has been ‘a devastating experience for all the businesses involved’.
“Personally I am grateful for the messages of support we have received from our customers, suppliers, staff and the local community. I feel a great sense of responsibility to the staff who have worked with us to build the business up over the last four years and I am determined to get the business up and running again and protect as many jobs as possible. I am appealing to various rural development bodies and to the local public representatives to row in behind the affected companies, to ensure we get all the necessary help to get us back on our feet.”
Another company LGR Limited lost all of their equipment and offices in the fire. Owner Tom Ryan said ‘we will just have to start again’.
“We work hand in hand with the Galtee Group here so we were able to secure another premises. Our staff are off work for the rest of this week but I hope to have them all back by next Monday.”
A third company, Quality Diamond Tools who had offices at the Ballylanders’ site, lost tools and drawings but owner Tom O’Carroll said despite being discommoded, the distribution company are still in operation.
The Galtee Group who also lost their offices have been able to continue manufacturing in other buildings on site.
