Lt. Jon Thompson said a short in the main electrical service to the store led to a build-up of heat and a fire that broke out in a stockroom beneath the stairs.

Some of the stairs and some of the store's stock were burned, while smoke accounted for the rest of the damage, he said.

Lt. Thompson said he was not aware of damage to Richie's Tyre Service, the other business in the commercial building beside the Liberty Theatre.

Progressive Labour Party MP Ms Renee Webb, who owned Buy Smart, said a fire sale was planned for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. She was still assessing yesterday whether the general merchandise store would reopen for regular business.

"I haven't decided what I'm going to do,'' she told The Royal Gazette "I have to assess the losses.''