Sayville resident Emily Newhouse may have been the last person to shop at Paper Doll Vintage Boutique.

Just six weeks postpartum, the new mother and vintage fashionista was perusing inventory at the Sayville staple last October when a fire broke out in a neighboring storefront undergoing renovations, according to a lawsuit. The flames ultimately would destroy the boutique and its inventory and damage six other downtown businesses.

“I remember that night thinking … ‘Is our whole town going to burn down?’ ” said Newhouse, 39, recalling the fear and grief she felt watching the storefront burn.

The Sayville community rallied in the wake of the fire , donating funds and supplies to businesses that have worked to rebuild. While much progress has been made, there’s still work to be done, sai

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