A MEETING will be held tomorrow to decide whether fire-ravaged shops will have to be demolished.

The fire on Newbridge High Street on Wednesday- which saw 36 firefighters from Aberbargoed, Risca, New Inn, Abertillery, Caerphilly and Maindee tackling the blaze and five shops evacuated due to heavy smoke- has been ruled as accidental.

Tomorrow's meeting is due to look at whether the two affected buildings, which housed St David’s Foundation charity shop and Station Coffee shop, can be saved or if they have to be demolished due to structural damage.

Royston Lewis, of Newbridge, who has owned the coffee shop for eight years, was allowed to the front of the shop today to look at the extent of the damage.

“The upstairs has totally gone, and the main concern is the adjoining wall between the two shops as if that can’t be saved then my shop might have to come down, so i'm just waiting to find out,” he added.

He had good news for his six staff members, who had been uncertain about their employment following the fire, as he told them today that he would give them shifts in his second cafe, Victoria’s Cafe.

Today a Caerphiily Council spokeswoman confirmed that structural engineers continued to evaluate the extent of the damage caused and what action is needed and the outcome will be decided tomorrow.

The High Street remained closed to vehicles today to allow evaluations to be undertaken, but pedestrian access was possible.

The fire in High Street is said to have started at around 12.25pm on Wednesday.

Five shops were evacuated because of the heavy smoke from the blaze that is reported to have started in St David’s Foundation charity shop and spread to Station coffee shop.

There were no casualties as a result of the fire and fire crews left the scene at 10.30pm, but had to return in the early hours to dampen down.

Mr Lewis’ staff noticed smoke coming in from the ceiling and set about evacuating the cafe that had over 20 lunch time diners inside.

Two of the workers were Amy Coombs and Hayley Richards, who were alerted when someone ran in to say the shop next door was on fire.

Miss Coombs said: “We then noticed smoke coming in so we started asking everyone to leave and in a matter of minutes the smoke was getting thicker and thicker.”

While fire crews tackled the fire, the police helicopter was hovering overhead to assess how the fire was spreading.

At 3.40pm, a spokesman for South Wales Fire and Rescue said the fire was under control but crews remained at the scene.

Emma Saysell, Chief Executive of St David's Hospice Care, commenting on the fire said: “I am personally devastated and very concerned about this terrible fire. I’m extremely grateful that no one was injured in this dreadful fire.

“We are ever so thankful to the people of Newbridge for their very generous and continued support over the years for our shop and again at this very testing time for us all. My heart goes out to all those affected by this awful incident.”

Mrs Saysell said the two staff employed and the people who volunteer at the charity shop, which St David’s Hospice Care leases from a private landlord, would be redeployed.

She said any stock lost in the fire would be covered by the charity’s insurance. While the future of the Newbridge shop remains uncertain local supporters, with items to donate to St David’s Hospice Care,  are asked to take these either to the Blackwood of Ystrad Mynach shops.

The charity is hoping to have a shop back up and running in Newbridge as soon as is possible.