THE owner of a ground-breaking renewable energy company in Derry which was extensively damaged in a huge fire at the weekend says its it could cost up to £500,000 to get his business back up and running.
The fire broke out around 5 am on Saturday morning in a shed at Gillilands farm containing around 600 tonnes of wood chip.
Around 45 firefighters helped put out the blaze in the building, which is situated on farmland off the Culmore Road.
Farm owner John Gilliland said they fire may have been sparked by a tractor batter.
He said today: “The farmyard has lost 40% of it’s local capacity.
“The fire started early on Saturday morning and we fought for two days to put it out.
“We believe we know what has caused the fire and there are a collection of costs here,” he said.
“It could cost about half a million pounds. This was an unfortunate accident and not the way we wanted to start 2016.
“There are people out there who are prepared to give their time to help us.”
Local SDLP and Sinn Fein politicians have praised the Fire and Rescue Service for their brave efforts in putting out the blaze.
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