Detective Dale Keegan said a number of witnesses and business owners had been interviewed and investigations were continuing. But he could not speculate as to the cause of the fire or comment on whether the fire was being treated as suspicious.

It is believed that the fire ignited from the rear of Ambi’s Treasures at 11:30pm on Sunday. Glen Innes Police Constable Erik Rosenzweig and Constable Danny Clement had heard an alarm ring, went to investigate and saw flames coming from the rear of the building. They were able to wake and escort four (of the six) occupants out of the flat above Fancy That Fashions and Frank Parry Real Estate.

It took two fire crews from Glen Innes and crews from Guyra and Tenterfield an hour and a half to gain control of the fire as helpless business owners looked on.

The site was secured mid-Monday morning with further work continuing yesterday.

Glen Innes Severn Council’s Director of Development and Environmental Services Graham Price said council were not responsible for engaging a structural engineer but did provide props for the building’s owner to secure the site.

Civil and Structural Engineer Bill Bryan of Tamworth has been employed to undergo an assessment on the building. Mr Bryan declined to comment on his findings.

Bryan Yeo of Crawford and Company in Tamworth said an engineers report would take a few days to complete. He believed part of the building would have to be demolished but would not comment further until a final decision had been made.