Newbridge High Street is today still closed to traffic following a major fire at a charity shop.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called at 12.25pm yesterday to reports that a commercial premises, measuring around 40 metres by 60 metres was alight.
The building houses the St David’s Hospice charity shop and the Station Coffee Shop and is next to the Tabernacle Baptist Church.
A spokeswoman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “Structural engineers from the council continue to evaluate the extent of the damage caused to the buildings affected by the fire and what actions are needed to make the site safe.
“The High Street will remain closed to traffic today (Thursday) to allow this work to be undertaken. Although Newbridge Town Centre is closed to traffic, pedestrian access is possible and the town is still very much open for business.”
Crews from Aberbargoed, Risca, Caerphilly, Maindee, and New Inn were at the scene tackling the blaze. In total, there were 36 firefighters and officers at the scene at the height of the fire.
A spokesman for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was extinguished at 4.05pm and that its cause was accidental.
A police helicopter was called and was used to observe the fire from the air.
Workers and shoppers were evacuated from the surrounding buildings and police closed the road. There were no reports of injury.