Fire destroys Umina Mall

Fire has destroyed Umina Mall shopping centre.

Fire broke out in the Umina eight-shop complex in the early hours of the Sunday morning, January 13.

Police and fire officers were called to the centre on Ocean Beach Road about 2:15am

Efforts were made to contain the blaze; but it had spread into the roof cavity where insulation continued to burn.

Emergency services remained at the scene of the fire more than 12 hours after arriving to fight the fire.

Shop tenant real estate agent Lois Jones praised the fire brigade officers who went into the burning building to rescue valuable equipment and files for the businesses.

"They are worth more money,'' she said.

Cr Richard Mehrtens said the said the situation presented an opportunity for renewal.

He said the prime location between Woy Woy and Umina served as an important shopping point for nearby residents.

"I hope that the owners of the site have a vision to keep the best bits of the site alive, such as its accessibility and convenience, and focus on the necessities of life that people rely on."

Anyone with information on the fire at Umina Mall is being urged to come forward.

The cause of the fire was being investigated and was being treated as suspicious, police said at the time, and have since confirmed it remains an ongoing active investigation.

Any links with the fire at Woy Woy community garden the following week were also being investigated.

SOURCE:

Media statement, 13 Jan 2019

Media Unit, NSW Police

Phone call, 23 Jan 2019

NSW Police, Woy Woy

Media statement, 25 Jan 2019

Cr RIchard Mehrtens, Central Coast Council