Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Fire destroys Jacksonville auto repair business

Taxi driver reported the early morning fire

Investigators have not yet determined what caused a fire this morning that destroyed a Jacksonville auto repair business though the blaze is not suspicious, a spokesman for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said.

Tom Francis said firefighters had to break their way inside H and T Auto Repair in the 4000 block of St. Augustine Road when they responded to the 3:30 a.m. fire reported by a passing taxi driver. Francis said flames were coming through the roof and that firefighters backed off from an initial interior attack due to concerns about highly combustible materials that might be inside.

No one was injured in the fire.

A water cannon was used to extinguish the fire in the single-story, concrete block building. The garage had four work bays and vehicles inside were also destroyed. Francis said the fire was put out in about 30 minutes.

He said businesses located feet from either side of the auto repair shop were kept from being damaged. Damage to the business is estimated at $200,000.

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