A blaze at a local auto body shop could have been much worse had firefighters not responded so quickly, according to an assistant fire chief with the Burnaby Fire Department.
Firefighters were called to False Creek Collision on Royal Oak between Grimmer and Lane streets at 4:16 a.m. on Sunday when flames erupted from a shed up against the main building. The fire engulfed much of the shed, pretty much destroying it, and was threatening the shop, but firefighters were able to get it under control before any major damage was caused, assistant fire chief Bryan Kirk told the NOW.
“It looks like the fire was started on the outside of this little shed,” Kirk said.
When firefighters arrived, flames could be seen coming from the side of the shed. They had to cut the lock to get into the yard before knocking the fire down, Kirk added.
Twenty firefighters responded to the fire, and they were at the scene for about two hours, making sure all the hot spots were out and the building was safe. While the cause of the fire is still being investigated, firefighters did find remnants of a mattress and what appeared to be a pallet next to the shed, Kirk said.
“I had (a fire) a couple of months ago, at a different auto body shop up in the same area there, same MO,” he added.
But because there weren’t any witnesses at the scene, firefighters aren’t sure who set the fire and why. Kirk said he’s just glad there wasn’t any significant damage to False Creek Collision.
“It could have been worse, that’s for sure, but the guys were quick to put the fire out, so, a happy ending,” he said.
False Creek Collision was up and running Monday morning.
