Monday, August 30, 2010 An auto repair shop fire that caused an estimated $2 million damage and sent four firefighters to hospital FROM EXTERIOR FUMES is being called suspicious. Police were the first to respond to the fire in an industrial plaza at 300 Exeter Rd. when burglar alarms tripped at about 11:30 Sunday night. Police arrived to see smoke and flames coming from the Mr. Mechanic shop at the south end of the building and notified fire crews.

The fire soon spread through an adjacent wheel repair shop and an auto body shop two doors north. London Fire Services Platoon Chief Paul Carew said four firefighters were sent to hospital within ten minutes of arriving at the scene. Carew said the firefighters were still setting up to battle the blaze when they were overcome by noxious fumes from the fire.

Carew said there was auto paint and gasoline, along with highly explosive propane and acetylene present in the building, which includes an auto body shop. He said the crew hadn't donned its breathing apparatus when the wind turned around, sending the smoke and fumes their way. Two of the firefighters have been released while two remain in hospital awaiting the results of blood tests.

Carew said the department might consider a change of policy and require firefighters to put on the breathing gear even as they set up for action.  Carew said the fire is being treated as suspicious but declined to comment further on the cause.
Even by 10 a.m. Monday, firefighters were still dousing hot spots among the ashes.
Much of the cinder block south wall of the shop collapsed under the extreme heat and high pressure fire hoses. A Chevy Metro sedan parked next to the wall was crushed, its roof completely flattened, under a pile of the blocks.
The tin roof of the building also sagged and collapsed into the shop.
Carew said the chemicals in the building made the blaze a special challenge for crews.
"We had to be very circumspect in our attack, so as not to endanger our firefighters," said Carew,
geoff.turner@sunmedia.ca or follow GeoffatLFPress on Twitter.