COUPLE’S DREAM UP IN SMOKE

IT WAS OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME AND OUR BABY SAYS DEVASTATED SHOP OWNER

BUSINESS owners Peter and Rebecca Jager watched their business of more than six years go up in flames after firefighters were called to a blaze in the heart of Kiamas historic terraced shops? on Collins Street around 8am yesterday.

The couple were alerted to the fire by a phone call from a neighbouring business owner.

?When we first got the call, I thought maybe its just a small fire. But as we drove towards it, it hit me how big it was and the damage it had done, said Mrs Jager.

Were just so shocked you just cant believe it.

When you run a business its like your baby, your home away from home, were just devastated.

The loss of many thousands of dollars of giftware stock has devastated the couple, who have spent the last six and a half years building up their labour of love giftstore.

The couple were yesterday yet to decide whether they would? set up their business elsewhere.

We liked it where we were to be honest I dont know what well do at this stage. It will take months.

Insurance assessors were expected to arrive at the fire-ravaged store yesterday.??

Witnesses told the Independent they saw flames coming from a rear window in the premises just minutes before firefighters arrived on the scene.

I heard the glass crackling and I wasnt sure what it was, recalled Michael Dibley, who was working nearby.

I looked around and there was smoke all over the roof.

There were flames shooting out a metre or so out of the window and the glass was popping in the heat.

An employee of Glen Fulton Holden on Collins Street was first on the scene with a garden hose .

I was across the road eating breakfast when I saw the flames and screamed fire everyone thought I was crazy, said local resident Carlos de Ferrari.

I was very worried because smoke was coming down the lane to my house I was worried it might keep going.

If the fire brigade was another two minutes (I think) the fire could have taken the whole row of shops.

Fire crews said the damage to the store was extensive, with an adjacent store also suffering some smoke damage.

NSW Fire Brigade and Police fire investigation teams spent several hours at the scene yesterday to identify the fires origin.

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