The owners of a Merseyside massage parlour have been left heartbroken after a fire 'devastated' their business.
Massage Therapy Rooms in Southport has told the ECHO that their premises will be closed for the foreseeable future and will continue to work from other places across the town following the blaze. The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, April 12, and has left the independent business, run by mum-to-be Aimee Byrne, without a place to work out of and four members of staff that need work.
As a result, Aimee has been inundated with offers to home the business temporarily as well as offers for donations of massage beds. She confirmed that the fire has destroyed two massage rooms at the back of the property with smoke damage in the front. However, she was thankful for fire-resistant building materials that meant the blaze didn't spread further into the building.
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Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed two fire engines were called to the property on Liverpool Road in Southport. A spokesperson for MFRS said: "Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service attended an incident on Liverpool Road, Birkdale, on Tuesday 12 April.
"Crews were alerted at 5.20am and on scene at 5.29am. Two fire engines attended. On arrival crews found a large wooden outdoor garage involved in fire.
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. A number of neighbouring properties were affected by smoke from the fire. These were ventilated by fire crews. Firefighters left the scene at 8.17am."
Amy told the ECHO : "There's five of us, four employees, and the local businesses have been very generous with donating massage beds or use of therapy rooms. We will hopefully keep the business running but from other premises until we can get the shop back up and running. There's severe fire damage to the premises and then smoke damage to the front.
"It's going to be a whole job to get the shop back up and running."
Aimee has now launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to refurbish the shop. In the fundraiser Aimee, along with her partner Rob, wrote: "We have been developing the business and premises over the seven years we've been at the property. We had practically finished the inside and were moving onto the garden space, this will now have to wait as we have to start again, in every inch of the property.
"The insurance will cover most of the damage but we will need help in restoring back to its former glory, everything inside the property is essentially lost to the fire and smoke damage. Most of the bricks, mortar and the front of the shop remain intact, unfortunately, and devastatingly the rest of the inside of the shop and outbuildings we were not so lucky with.
"Our loyal and marvellous therapists, Rosemarie, Dyan, Jess and Wiola have been immense (as usual) for putting plans in place to rearrange treatments at a number of other locations (wherever and whenever we can)! This fire is not only devastating to us who work there but to our long-standing, loyal clients who retreat to our sanctuary to restore some balance back into a stressful life."
On Facebook, Aimee wrote: "It is truly heart breaking to write this post, but our beautiful Therapy Rooms and flat has suffered a devastating fire and the damage and loss is excessive, any donation you can give us and your patience and flexibility at this difficult time will be greatly appreciated."
