'I have to rebuild. I have kids': London business goes up in flames
Damage is estimated to be “well over” $500,000 following a major fire in London, according to Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger.
The blaze at 172 Roberts Ave. broke out just after 5:00 a.m. and so far, there are no reported injuries.
The fire touched three buildings, but a large garage with multiple vehicles inside sustained the heaviest damage.
The auto body and repair shop is a family business.
Mohamed Elgafry, a family member and employee, arrived at the scene shortly before 9 a.m.
He said he is devastated to see three years of hard work to build the business go up in smoke.
“I lost everything. I lost everything,” he told CTV News.
Mosburger says firefighters knew on arrival there was little they could do to save the main garage.
“Crews arrived to find the building fully involved in a fire,” he said as firefighters worked to contain hotspots behind him.
Mosburger said more than 30 personnel responded to the initial call and as the severity of the fire became known, more firefighters arrived.
At the height of the flames, equipment on scene included four engines, two tankers and an aerial unit to get above the flames.
Crews also worked to prevent the fire from damaging two smaller nearby buildings.
Their efforts were largely successful for one of the structures, but the other sustained smoke and fire damage.
All around the site, which also faces Cabell Street, there is evidence of intense heat through burn marks on the sheet metal main building. A large amount of water is also pooled in the area.
As a result, City of London crews arrived to clear catch basins, but that presented another problem, the potential of hazardous water runoff.
Mosburger said Ministry of the Environment inspectors will assist with the cleanup.
“Unknown of what type of materials could be burning inside. Obviously, we realized the fire was deeply seeded and consuming a lot of the materials inside the building,” he said.
While the fire is under control, Mosburger said crews will remain on the scene for some time to keep hotspots in check and to ensure a swift investigation.
There is no cause at this point, but a London fire inspector said the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office will be notified.
Meanwhile, Elgafry said his family will rebuild.
“I have to. I have kids. I have a family. I spent everything. I will start again,” he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.