Fire authorities say it will be difficult to determine the cause of a fire which has destroyed two businesses at Nowra.

The fire began in a motorcycle shop and was well alight when NSW Fire Brigade and Rural Fire Service crews arrived about 1:30pm (AEDT) yesterday.

The fire in a building off the Princes Highway near the Stockland Shopping Centre quickly spread to an adjacent surf shop, destroying motorcycles and surfboards.

The damage bill has been estimated at $1.4 million.

Inspector Paul Johnson from the NSW Fire Brigade says the building will have to be demolished.

“The building was very unstable, we had partial collapse of the building, we had a collapse of the roof while we were on the scene, that happened very early, all other walls were buckling, so the building will be coming down,” he said.

Source: ABC