A Dunedin panelbeating business is working to ''rise from the ashes'' as the fire that destroyed the business was deemed accidental.
The focus of the investigation has shifted to a piece of panelbeating equipment.
Bodyline Collision Panel and Paint owner Sean Blair said it was a ''relief'' when fire investigators told him the fire which destroyed his Wharf St business last week was not suspicious and his insurance company had ''the green light'' to pay his claim.
Mr Blair said he ''broke down'' after he entered the burnt remains of his business on Wednesday, the first time since the fire.
''I couldn't believe how much destruction had been done - it is unbelievable.''
He was running his business from an office next door, at Ellisons Aluminium, and hoped the firm would ''rise from the ashes''.
His painters and panelbeaters had swapped physical work for creating business strategies at desks.
''... they are going home mentally drained,'' he said.
''We can rise from the ashes again.''
The business started 11 years ago.
Fire Investigation Services principal Ken Legat, the private investigator working on behalf of Mr Blair's insurance company, said he had ''no doubt'' the fire was accidental, and not suspicious.
A ''device'' was found in the area were the fire originated, he said.
''Now, we have to work out why the device failed, or why it ignited the material surrounding it. That fire has then spread to the surrounding vehicles and then it's been all on for young and old.''
He would not reveal what the device was because it could potentially be the subject of ''civil action''.
''It is my job to try and work out the sequence of ignition.''
East Otago fire risk management officer Michael Harrison said the scene examination was completed and investigators had removed an item of ''panelbeating equipment'' from the workshop in the ''centre-front'' of the building - where the fire originated.
''Everything points back to that piece of equipment, but we are doing some further testing on it to confirm our findings,'' Mr Harrison said.
He wanted to thank the members of the public who provided the Fire Service with video footage and photographs of the building burning before the firefighters arrived.
''They were very helpful in our investigation.''
