Above: CFA members battle the fire at S and D Motors on Sunday.By Callan Date
A DOVETON business is in disarray after a fire swept through part of a car repair workshop on Sunday.
Three cars awaiting repairs were completely destroyed, along with the back section of the S and D Motors factory as the blaze took hold at about 1pm.
No-one was injured during the fire, which caused damage with an estimated repair bill of $150,000, with Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews quickly on the scene and able to contain the blaze to the rear of the building.
Business owner Steve Chopping was assessing the damage a day later and said he was unsure when the workshop would open up again.
“A lot was damaged. Everything we really have in the factory was down the back where the fire was,” Mr Chopping said.
The mechanic of 25 years said the factory and the contents were insured but it would take some time to clean up and start operating as per usual.
Exploding objects, a leaking LPG tank and heavy smoke greeted firefighters, Hallam Fire Brigade officer Michael Lia said.
He said a firefighter had to climb into the back of a car on a mechanical hoist and shut of its LPG tank.
“The tank was feeding the fire so we had to break into the boot and isolate the gas,” Mr Lia said.
He said investigations had taken place into the cause of the fire with nothing suspicious discovered.
“The back section of the roof collapsed early on in the fire,” he said.
“We were also able to save several cars from being destroyed, along with the front section of the factory.”
Mr Lia said Hallam and Dandenong CFA crews were hampered during their firefighting efforts by increased traffic in the area.
“If people want to come and have a look, at least park their cars down the road out the way of any tankers that might need access,” he said.
