'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
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.