The owner of an auto shop on the city’s south side was devastated late Monday morning, after fire tore through his business.
Owner Desmond Gray told CTV News that he was working in his shop, Alberta Mobile Autobody Customizing on 104 Street and 79 Avenue, when the fire started at about 10 a.m. Monday.
Gray said he was working on a vehicle, when a plate he was cutting fell, and hit a gas line. He said the fire got out of control and he called 911.
“I was working by myself, the next minute, I just saw flames,” Gray said. “One of the worst things I did was to use an airline, to try and put it out.
“It spit the flames onto the car.”
When firefighters arrived on the scene, flames and heavy smoke could be seen pouring out of the shop’s storefront.
In addition to fire crews, members of the HazMat unit were also called, due to concerns surrounding some of the materials inside the shop at the time of the fire.
The fire was under control about half an hour after firefighters were first called.
Fire officials said the inside of the building sustained significant damage – with smoke damage to the office in the shop, and to the neighbouring Sundance Ski and Snowboard shop.
Investigators have determined the fire started in a vehicle, but there’s no official word on the cause or a damage estimate.
Grey told CTV News he doesn’t believe he’s covered by insurance, and that it expired in July.
With files from Nicole Weisberg
