A Leven bakery owner is still waiting to learn the fate of his High Street shop following this week’s devastating fire.
Award-winning Stuart’s Bakers and Butchers was badly damaged in the blaze at neighbouring Poundstretcher on Tuesday morning.
But the building is in such a perilous state that Keith Stuart has been unable to get inside to assess it.
He fears his premises will have to be demolished but is relying on a decision from specialist engineers.
Mr Stuart said: “It’s not looking good.
“I’ve been down to the shop several times.
“It doesn’t seem too bad from the outside but I’ve no idea what it’s like inside.”
The shop, which also has a cafe, is one of eight operated by the family-run business.
It employs around 10 staff, who now face an uncertain future in the run-up to Christmas.
High Street buildings are blackened shells
A section of Leven High Street remained fenced off on Wednesday due to the unstable nature of the affected buildings.
There is still no vehicular access, including for blue badge holders, and some side streets and car parks are also closed.
Around 50 firefighters battled the flames for several hours after the alarm was raised at around 2am.
But they were unable to stop the flames from tearing through the premises.
Poundstretcher and a solicitor’s office upstairs are now blackened shells with no roof and windows blown out.
And while the extent of the damage at Stuart’s isn’t yet known, the Together Levenmouth Hub on the other side of Poundstretcher has water and smoke damage.
‘I think the whole building will be torn down’
As the smell of smoke hung in the air on Wednesday, Mr Stuart said the Leven shop was one of his busier ones.
“We moved in in 1995 from the bottom of the High Street,” he said.
“It’s a good wee place for us.
“Poundstretcher is next door but it’s an L-shape and wraps round the back of us so we’ve got it from two sides.
“I think the whole building will be torn down but it depends on the structural integrity of the building.
“We’re right in the middle of the High Street and to lose three businesses like that will hit hard.”
Police appeal as emergency services efforts praised
Meanwhile, the emergency services have been praised for their “exemplary” efforts on Tuesday.
Labour councillor Colin Davidson said: “I would like to pay tribute to the police and the fire service for the work they did in very difficult circumstances.
“The work they put in through the night to keep the fire from spreading up the High Street was exemplary.”
Mr Davidson wants to get the affected buildings torn down and the High Street reopened as soon as possible.
“It’s essential it’s reopened quickly or this could be a fatal hammer blow for some of the businesses,” he said.
Police are still investigating the cause of the fire.
They have appealed for anyone who was in the area of Leven High Street between 11pm on Monday and 2am on Tuesday to get in touch.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident 0231 of November 8.
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