The owners of a tattoo studio destroyed by a fire in Kilmarnock have said they have “lost everything”.
Six fire engines and two specialist units were sent to the well-developed fire at a four-storey building on King Street around 9pm on Monday.
Emergency services remain on the scene of the fire that spread to a number of premises.
Hard Luck Tattoo Studio opened in the town centre building in June after a year of renovations.
Olly FultonOwner Niky Brown told STV News that he and partner Kirsty Donald, 30, have “lost everything”, including equipment worth £50,000 to £60,000.
Over a dozen tattoo artists have also had their livelihoods destroyed.
A fundraiser to help the team has already raised over £13,000.
STV NewsThe 37-year-old business owner admitted he had “tears in his eyes” watching the fire take hold.
Forever Young“We’ve lost everything. We have a three-month-old, too.
“We’re just a small business, we’ve only eight other staff”, he said. “We’ve lost around £50,000 worth of equipment. Tattoo machines are expensive.
“I had tears in my eyes, to be honest, I’ve never seen anything like that in my life, it was something from a Hollywood film.”
STV NewsThe town’s Burns Mall was closed, and members of the public have been urged to avoid the area as emergency services remain on the scene.
Police say investigations into the cause of the fire, which caused an internal collapse, are ongoing
The building, once home to a number of businesses, is expected to be demolished over fears of further collapse.
There have been no reports of any injuries, something Niky said he can be grateful for.
“That’s the scary thing, one of the boys was meant to work, but I told him not to work. Thankfully, he didn’t.
“My livelihood has been destroyed, but I’m grateful no one has been hurt.”
STV NewsA GoFundMe has been launched and also already raised over £13,000 to help replace the tattoo equipment and allow staff to return to work.
“I just want to say thank you very much from everyone in the town and surrounding areas, hopefully I can get the equipment back and get back open soon.
“Take care and appreciate what you have. Might be gone tomorrow”, he added.
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 8.58pm on Monday, July 14, to reports of a fire to the rear of a commercial building on King Street, Kilmarnock.
“At its height, operations control mobilised six appliances and specialist resources to the scene of a well-developed fire affecting a four-storey building, which partially collapsed.
“There are no reported casualties.
“Two appliances and specialist resources remain at the scene as they work to make the area safe.”
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