BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY -- The owners of three buildings destroyed by fire downtown say their hope is to rebuild.  And while it could be tough to follow the standards set for the historic district, town leaders are offering help.

It was just ten days ago Joe Davidson watched something he never envisioned -- his business and apartment building along West Main Street went up in flames.

Now, Davidson and the owners of the other destroyed buildings are coming together to start over.

"I kind of have a positive attitude about it," said Davidson. "I mean, it's sad that it happened. I just look at it as thank God nobody got hurt."

The damage wasn't contained to just the three buildings.

"The entire block was affected," said Downtown Manager Megan Hummel.  "We had other business offices and retail spaces that had been affected by smoke and water damage. So we have a whole block in our downtown that was affected by this fire."

Hummel talked to the owners about keeping the character of the historic district when considering rebuilding.

"Because we want it to have a look and a feel of the same small town that it was," said Hummel.

At least one of the buildings is expected to come down next week.  All three have to be down by the end of the month.  Then, the owners expect plans to rebuild to take off.

While the property owners say the fire was devastating, they look forward to rebuilding and bringing business to the west end of downtown, that people really want to see.

"Not only the students, but I think we have to look at something that's going to bring people back down to Bloomsburg," said Davidson.  "This is what they really need, to get back downtown again.  And I think they might enjoy the place much better."

"My hope is that next year at this time, as we're starting the Christmas season," said Hummel, "we have five to seven new businesses all up and running in the west end of town."

They're turning devastation into a new creation.