The fire caused substantial damage to the long-standing business in Benalla Road Yarrawonga.
Updated
The Simmons family have reached out and thanked the community for their support after a fire gutted their long-standing business at 105 Benalla Road, Yarrawonga last Friday morning, January 24.
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In a statement from the family, they vowed they will rebuild the 45 year old business premises, in time.
The fire which started around 6.30am caused substantial damage to the Stuart Simmons Motorcycles, Mowers & Marines premises before CFA crews were able to extinguish the blaze.
CFA Commander Peter Bell said the roof had fallen in and the brick structure was at risk of further collapse.
The Simmons family have vowed they will rebuild their long standing business.
CFA crews and total of 12 vehicles arrived to find the retail premises fully engulfed. The incident was declared under control at 7.42am and safe at 9.29am. Crews remained on the scene for some time blacking out. The area around the site was closed to traffic until the area was deemed safe.
The fire is believed to have started on a boat parked at the rear of the retail premises before spreading to the building. The building was completely destroyed by the fire.
The fire is not being treated as suspicious.
The Simmons family posted a message on their Facebook later in the day.
“Today was beyond hard for our family. At the moment we don’t have words to describe our grief at losing this place.
“It was so much more than our business and our building, its existence and operation flowed through our veins, making up a big part of the fabric of who our little Simmons family are.
“A business with as much pride as ours, and the longevity of 45 years of operation in our country town suffers beyond comprehension today. But we will rebuild, in time, we will be back.
“So many of our great friends, customers and members of the community have reached out to us and we can’t thank you enough for your thoughts, generosity and support in navigating through this devastating fire.
“Please hold our hands as we move forward - we need you all and appreciate you.”
