Arsonists are believed to have started a fire which ripped through a farm building and carpentry workshop.
Investigators were on Friday looking through the charred wreckage of the single-storey barn containing Fiveways Farm Shop and Simon's Carpenters.
But firefighters battling the inferno at about 12.30am prevented it spreading to explosive gas canisters and an adjacent chemical store.
Julian Mead, owner of the Colchester farm, off Peartree Road, Stanway, said: "We will be rebuilding."
Station officer Dave Bridgeman said: "An extremely severe fire rapidly engulfed the whole of the building. It is being treated as doubtful. The fire was probably started on the outside."
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article