The owner of a north-east bowling alley damaged in a massive blaze hopes it will rise from the ashes and reopen.
About 60 firefighters tackled the fire at Harley’s in Macduff late on Sunday.
Eight fire crews from across the north-east were sent to the Old Gamrie Road site, and worked for three hours to extinguish the flames. They remained at the scene through the night, dampening down.
Fire investigation officers returned to the site yesterday in an attempt to piece together what caused the fire.
Devastated owner Lynn Rae last night said she still had no idea what had happened, or the full extent of the damage inside.
But she vowed that, if she could, she would reopen the venue after being overwhelmed with messages of support from the local community.
“I haven’t really been told much by the fire brigade or the police,” she said. “I’m not sure how the fire started. I’m just thankful that no one was in the building at the time of the fire.
“The first I heard of it was when I got a call about it at about 9pm (on Sunday). The only thing I could think of doing was to get down and see what was happening.
“I’m now waiting to hear from the insurers and I’m hoping that we will be able to get up and running again in the near future.”
Throughout the day, locals could be seen driving through the industrial estate to inspect the damage of the bowling alley.
“Harley’s is a soft play, restaurant and bowling alley, so it was well used by the community,” Ms Rae added.
“I’ve had lots of very nice messages since the fire from people giving their support. I’d really like to thank them for that, and all the firemen and police who were here to help.”
At its peak, 60 firefighters from Aberdeen, Peterhead, Huntly, Macduff, Banff, Aberchirder, Portsoy, Turriff, Fraserburgh and Cullen were drafted in to extinguish the flames.
Fire service group manager David Meldrum said the team had been faced with a “well-developed fire” within the roof space of Harley’s.
He said yesterday: “The crews worked very hard and dealt with the fire quickly and effectively.
“Their actions managed to prevent substantial damage to the building and they were able to contain the fire to the roof space.
“Thankfully no one was inside the premises at the time.”
A police spokeswoman said inquiries into the incident were continuing.
“There was due to be a joint police and fire investigation, and inquiries are ongoing,” she added.
Macduff councillor Mark Findlater, who lives in the town, said the community would rally behind Ms Rae and the management at Harley’s to offer their help.
Paying tribute to the work of the firefighters, he added: “It’s a loss for Macduff – another business that has been taken out of action by a fire.
“The management do a great job up there and there’s been a lot of investment. It’s going to be a sore loss because it’s been an asset over the years. How many towns can boast having a bowling alley in this area?
“Both of my daughters have been waitresses at Harley’s and a lot of young people have jobs up there.
“It looks pretty bad, but they’ll get the support of the people of Macduff. I’m just hoping they can get back on their feet and get the business going again, because that’s what our town needs.”
The fire was described as “devastating” by Whitehills woman Emma Robertson, who spotted the blaze while visiting her mother.
“When I was leaving there was a burning smell and I couldn’t see anything for thick black smoke, so I went to have a look,” she said.
“The building was ablaze with flames coming out the roof, and the toxic smell of smoke was unbelievable covering the town of Macduff.”
Macduff was last rocked by a fire when the Highland Haven Hotel, which once offered three-star accommodation, was gutted in 2014.
The building on Shore Street was so badly damaged that council engineers were forced to demolish it over fears about public safety.
