“There’s like fire all on the floor of the garage here, the timbers starting to fall down,” said Tom Carney, a witness to the fire. Photo: Nicholas Ward.
An automotive repair business on Newcastle Street, Fyshwick, has been significantly damaged following a fire on Thursday afternoon (12 June).
The owner, who did not want to be named, stood outside the alley where his shop is located, watching the firefighters work to save his livelihood. He had been in the middle of repairing a vehicle when the fire began.
ACT Fire & Rescue, the ACT Ambulance Service, and ACT Policing were quickly on scene. A witness to the fire, Tom Carney, said when he arrived, the fire was already engulfing the whole shop.
READ ALSO: From stolen car parks to leaky pot plants, what really bugs your neighbours in community living
“There’s like fire all on the floor of the garage here, the timbers starting to fall down because they were obviously getting weak. Saw the owner run back in, which I thought was nuts. It’s like, mate, it’s not worth it.”
Tom Carney: “I pulled my phone out, got on triple zero, started telling them where the fire was, at the same time trying to get everyone out of the alleyway.” Photo: Tom Carney.
Mr Carney, who had been making a delivery nearby, said he arrived just as the fire started. He called triple zero while he tried to help people nearby.
“I was just driving down the road from the service station and I saw the smoke coming up out of the top of the building as I was making a delivery … saw the fucking smoke was getting worse … and so I pulled my phone out, got on triple zero, started telling them where the fire was, at the same time trying to get everyone out of the alleyway.”
READ ALSO: Man allegedly tried to light a gas bottle next to a servo fuel pump
Firefighters responded at around 3:10 pm with a response time of seven minutes, according to Paul Flynn, ACT Fire and Rescue superintendent.
“Fire and Rescue responded, four pumpers initially, and a fifth was on its way. We also supported that with our hazmat van, our breathing apparatus van, and our aerial four two appliance [a truck equipped with an aerial ladder],” he said.
Superintendent Flynn said they quickly brought the fire under control, and there were no injuries.
“At time of arrival, they found the structure well alight, and immediately took to firefighting and seeking fire control and then a primary clearance to make sure that nobody was hurt or injured in the fire.”
“The roof of the premises did collapse in, so they’re having a look there to make sure what damage has occurred and how our staff can safely enter the premises to continue firefighting,” Photo: Nicholas Ward.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Fire and Rescue confirmed they will investigate the incident.
The fire was extinguished at 5:15 pm this afternoon.
