The small town of Avoca has been devastated after two local business were left in ashes.
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The Pyreness Premium Cuts Butcher and the Jos House Gallery and Cafe were destroyed by a blaze in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Hayley and James Collicoat, who own and live directly behind the butcher, were forced to evacuate their home with their five young children after 1am, as the blaze engulfed their business.
Pyreness Premium Cuts manager Jesse Leenaerts, who has been working at the business for the past six years, arrived on the scene shortly after the fire began.
“We just grabbed the garden hose and tried our best, but there was only so much we could really do,” he said.
Mr Leenaerts is confident the business and the Collicoat family will get the support they need going forward.
“(Avoca) is a tight knit place, everyone will pull together,” he said.
“It's one of those small country towns where everyone know's each other's business which in times like this certainly helps.”
The family’s home was thankfully left unscathed, and support from the community has already poured in.
Nicky Kay from the neighboring Olive & Lavender Store spoke about the how the community will support the two businesses going forward.
“I was devastated for them, this is the only butcher we’ve got in town, and Jos has been there for years, so to see this happen is just devastating,” Ms Kay said.
“I think the community is going to do very well (supporting the business).
“It’s a very close community and I’m sure we will do something to help bring back these two fantastic business.”
These sentiments were echoed by Ron Eason of the Avoca Newsagency.
“It’s a tragedy,” he said.
“We were without a butcher for a while, and to have them come in and do the magnificent job they were doing was amazing.
“When they came in, the community gave them immediate support and I am confident we will do it again and help them out however we can.”
Having such community support will likely go a long way towards bringing these two businesses back better than ever as soon as possible.
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