Independent business owners have expressed devastation after a grass fire spread to the Locking Farm Industrial Estate in Weston-super-Mare, destroying half of its units on 18 August.
Avon and Somerset Police arrested two teenage boys in connection with the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately. Both have since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.
Martin Fey, the estate site manager, stated that eight businesses cannot currently trade, affecting 30 to 40 people. He anticipates some buildings will need to be demolished and rebuilt, a process he expects to take over a year.
John Harvey, owner of the BT MOT Centre, which had been at the site for 30 years, was among those impacted. He said he was sleeping onsite in a campervan the night before the blaze and returned home on the evening of the fire.
Local residents have launched a fundraising campaign to help Mr Harvey recover financially from the incident.