KATE NEWTON
New season stock was smoke damaged and many items left sodden and singed in a pile on the floor after a suspicious fire at Taradale fashion store Caroline Eve early today.
The store's distribution centre manager, Kaye Tristram, received a call at 1am telling her to get to the store.
"As
I drove down Church Road and saw the smoke I knew what had happened," Mrs Tristram said.
Although structural damage was limited to the back of the store, on Symons Lane, a lot of knitwear and a computer out the back had melted and stock in the shop was smoke damaged.
"We were chocka-block with new season stock," Mrs Tristram said.
Bargain store 1,2,3 which is new to Gloucester Street, was also affected by the fire.
It is believed two fadges full of cardboard boxes outside the stores were deliberately lit.
Three fire appliances attended, two from Napier and one from Taradale, and about 12 firefighters worked on the blaze for three hours. Police are hoping CCTV set up in Taradale will help them catch the suspected arsonists.
Staff would be stocktaking today and they were unsure how long they the store would be closed.
