A fire that has destroyed two businesses at Moruya this morning has been deemed suspicious.
Fire crews were alerted to the blaze at 73 Vulcan Street just before 3 o’clock this morning.
They arrived to find the building fully engulfed in flames.
“The Moruya firefighters arrived first and spent about 20 minutes fighting the fire before getting support from Narooma and Batemans Bay,” Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Phillip Eberle said.
“As the first continued with all had additional support from Nowra and Braidwood,” he said.
At the height of the incident there were 60 firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service in the scene.
The building’s roof, which housed LJ Hooker Real Estate and an Indian supermarket that had only been open for three days, collapsed due to the intense heat of the flames. A large awning at the front also crumbled over in the process.
Chief Inspector John Sheehan said forensic investigators were on route to examine the scene to try to determine the cause.
“At this stage we are treating it has suspicious. We have fire investigators from Fire and Rescue NSW and as well as our crime scene investigators,” he said.
“I just ask that if anyone has CCTV footage from around the two or three hours before the fire or dashcam footage to contact Batemans Bay Police Station.”
The Princess Highway was reopened to traffic in both directions around 10 o’clock after being closed at 3:00am for the firefighting effort.
Staff from Transport for NSW and Eurobodalla Shire Council were also in attendence.
