FIREFIGHTERS were alerted to a fire in a launderette in Launceston by a passerby in the early hours of Tuesday morning — which Downtons Dry Cleaning says has ‘destroyed’ their business.

The passerby reported smoke in the area of Exeter Street at around 3.34am, and soon after a resident called emergency services reporting the windows of the launderette were blackened and felt hot.

Two fire crews from the town were sent to the scene, and the three-storey building measuring 20m by 20m was heavily smoke-logged when firefighters entered.

They entered the building with two breathing apparatus, one hose reel and a jet.

Once the fire had been extinguished crews removed some of the fire loading from the building whilst damping down. Once the fire was confirmed out, fire crews remained on scene ventilating the building.

A spokesperson for Downtons Dry Cleaning took to social media on Tuesday morning (October 11) to say the business would be closed until further notice.

They wrote: “Three years of building up a business that has quite literally been destroyed in what seems to be minutes.

“We deeply apologise for any inconvenience caused to our loyal customers at this tragic and upsetting time for us all.”