THE cause of a blaze that destroyed a building in Abergavenny is still unknown because fire investigators say that it is unsafe to go inside.

Fire investigators were unable to carry out a full investigation into the cause of the fire, which ripped through the Sundarbon Bengal Cuisine and a flat above, and damaged Divalution hair salon in Monk Street on Saturday, January 3, because the building is unsafe to enter.

A spokesman for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the incident is now closed.

Gwent Police said they were not treating the fire as suspicious.

Three people were evacuated and two people were said to have jumped from a first-floor flat window over the salon before being taken to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny by ambulance.

It took firefighters two hours and fifteen minutes to bring the fire under control.

An Aneurin Bevan spokesman said a woman who had jumped from the first-floor window in a flat over the salon was in a stable condition at Nevill Hall Hospital.

Jan Compérat, the owner of the building that contains Divalution salon and the tenants upstairs, said it would be months until the building could reopen because of the extensive water damage caused by firefighters as they battled to keep the fire contained.

She said: “We are at the mercy of our insurers and the insurers for the restaurant.

“We have been instructed to put up scaffolding and a Tin Hat (temporary roof structure) to make the building safe.

“It’s been an upsetting time and we are still picking up the pieces.

“Everyone has been so generous to my tenants above Divalution salon.

“The support we have received has meant a lot to us, the tenants and Ali, the owner of the restaurant.”

Divalution remains open for business as usual and is renting a chair in Studio One above The Optic Shop.

A Facebook page set up following the fire has rallied more than 1,400 members to give donations to help those who have been affected by the fire.

Mrs Compérat added: “We are totally overwhelmed with your kindness.’

Nikki Cleaton, who is storing all items donated via the Help the Victims of the Monk Street Fire facebook group, said people have donated toiletries, food, household items and clothes for the affected tenants.

She said: “The response has been amazing.

“I want to thank everyone for their kindness and generosity.

“Natalie Chiplin, who founded the group, and myself are collecting funds and are hoping to hold a fundraising evening.”