By Jeff Sanford
Winnipeg, Manitoba — November 30, 2015 — Fire officials report they continue to keep an eye on a smoldering fire at a collision facility just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The collision centre, J. Max Auto, went up in flames overnight Monday according to reports from eyewitnesses and fire crews.
No one was hurt in the fire but officials described the blaze as “massive.” Local Winnipeg news reports that the fire broke out sometime between 10 and 11:30 pm. Fire crews arrived on the scene to battle the blaze throughout the night. The fire caused significant damage to the single-story wood frame building.
At one point during the blaze, fire crews were pulled back over concerns propane tanks could explode and the building could collapse. The shop is located near the intersection of Pembina Highway and Grant Street. The facility itself is located on Lorrette Avenue.
Firefighters arrived to find the fire burning in the ceiling and roof of the building. Crews used two aerial ladders to fight the blaze. There were no injuries. But it is believed there were as many as forty vehicles in the building, some of them high-end models. A witness said the owners often moved the vehicles inside to avoid vandalism.
No one in the industry needs to be reminded, but fire safety is key in a sector where flammable and volatile substances are in use everyday. Check out the following links for some guidelines on fire safety in the collision repair industry:
Fire Prevention in the Collision Repair Industry: Don’t Get Burned!
