In the 45 years he has worked at the woodchip mill in Eden on the New South Wales far south coast, Trevor Smith has never seen anything like this.

Key points: Woodchip mill, Allied Natural Wood Exports, experienced millions of dollars worth of damage when bushfires tore through Eden

Woodchip mill, Allied Natural Wood Exports, experienced millions of dollars worth of damage when bushfires tore through Eden An estimated 75,000 tonnes of woodchips and 4,000 tonnes of hardwood logs were lost in the blaze

An estimated 75,000 tonnes of woodchips and 4,000 tonnes of hardwood logs were lost in the blaze Firefighters used seawater to help put out the blaze, as some of the woodchip piles are still burning

The massive Border bushfire destroyed dozens of homes and structures around the town before impacting Allied Natural Wood Exports on January 4.

Millions of dollars worth of infrastructure and timber at the business were incinerated.

More than a fortnight later, and with only a few spot fires left to put out, the mill's employees now have a chance to asses the damage.

"It's like an atom bomb has gone off," Mr Smith said.

"It's not like a fire burnt it. It's like something disintegrated everything. It's not something I've seen before."

Trevor Smith has been working at the woodchip mill for 45 years. ( ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon )

Mr Smith was tasked with moving machinery and other mobile assets to safety in the days before the fire approached.

The property came under ember attack and a number of sheds and wood piles caught alight.

Due to the lack of infrastructure to hold water on site, authorities resorted to using seawater from Twofold Bay to try and control the blaze.

Millions of dollars worth of infrastructure and timber has been damaged or destroyed. ( ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon )

Mr Smith returned in the days after the devastation to help with the clean-up, only to see his office in one of the maintenance sheds destroyed.

"There is nothing. All gone. Totally," he said.

"I can imagine people who would see it and say we're not going to rebuild this, but we will."

Firefighters and military personnel have been working to extinguish embers in the deepest parts of the woodchip piles that are still burning.

Firefighters have been using seawater to put out fires in the woodchip piles. ( ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon )

It is estimated that 75,000 tonnes of woodchips were lost in the blaze, along with 4,000 tonnes of hardwood logs, conveyors and a workshop filled with spare parts and tools.

Despite the loss, operations are expected to resume this week.

"Some assets are damaged and some are remarkably untouched," mill operator Malcolm McComb said.

"It's really a disappointing result, but at the same time, it could have been a lot worse."

Malcolm McComb is pleased that plans to rebuild have already begun. ( ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon )

The mill is one of the largest employers on the Far South Coast and one of the biggest businesses to be impacted by the Border fire.

But planning to rebuild has begun.

"We're now feeling reasonably optimistic," Mr McComb said.

"This was a nearly 50-year-old facility. We'll probably design it a little bit differently and bring it up to a better standard."

The fire sent plumes of smoke across Eden. ( ABC: Jonathan Hair )

General manager Kel Henry said it was important that operations returned to normal for the sake of the 70 full-time employees.

"We need to get this place up, operating and people back at work," he said.

"Everybody is looking for us to get back on our feet and get going ASAP."

Kel Henry says he's keen to resume operations. ( ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon )

Not just the mill

The Border fire has also impacted local trade and tourism, with some businesses in Eden having to reduce hours and cut staff.

Cafe owner Karen Lott said the town had taken a hit but was eager to get back on its feet.

"It's been a real helter-skelter. It's been a difficult few weeks, I can't deny that," she said.

Her business would normally employ 11 people per day over the peak summer season, but has only had the capacity to roster three to four.

Cafe owner Karen Lott says locals are pushing through the tough times. ( ABC South East NSW: Adriane Reardon )

She said she was determined to stay open for the locals who used her cafe as a space to talk and support each other, along with emergency services who popped in for their regular coffees.

"We're pulling it together and making it work," she said.

"We're all going to very soon run out of money in the bank. We're just surviving one day at a time."