Fire Destroys Mulberry Auto Shop

Dec. 13--A Mulberry car shop went up in flames late Thursday.

Mulberry firefighters responded just before 10 p.m. to a fire at Anthony's Wrecker & Collision at 127 Mulberry Wire Road. Mary Martin, mother of the shop's owner, Anthony Keith, said the fire consumed the family's business.

"There's no salvaging anything; we've lost it all," Martin said. "It's just terrible. I just don't know."

Martin said nobody was inside when the shop went up in flames. Martin said her oldest son sometimes works at the shop late at night, but he was not there when the fire started.

"I'm just so thankful nobody got hurt," Martin said.

Martin described the fire as "massive." The shop housed several paints and chemicals, which caused the fire to spread quickly.

Martin said the family has owned the business for nearly 20 years.

Once a fire engine arrived at the scene, the 7,500-square-foot building was engulfed in flames, Mulberry Fire Chief Jeff Marvin said.

Paint thinners, lacquers, grease, oil, propane tanks and other flammable materials cause the fire to spread quickly. Explosions rang out from inside the building, making it impossible for firefighters to enter safely, Marvin said.

Firefighters began by extinguishing the back area of the building, near where a home resided. The home was evacuated and firefighters kept the flames from spreading outside the burning shop, Marvin said.

Marvin called for assistance from Dyer firefighters. Four fire engines were set up at the back and at the front of the building, where several cars were parked, Marvin said.

Firefighters spent more than an hour to get the flames under control, and stayed at the scene until about 3 a.m. putting out hot spots and doing overhaul. Marvin described the area as "a total loss."

The only spot at the site that remained intact was an office area, but it sustained heavy smoke damage, Marvin said.

Firefighters do not know what caused the fire. The insurance company likely will hire an investigator that will work with Mulberry police and fire, and if necessary, will call a state fire marshal to investigate, Marvin said.

Finding the cause of the fire likely will be extremely difficult because of the severity of the damage. Firefighters at the scene were unable to pinpoint where the fire began inside the building, Marvin said.

No firefighters were injured. Marvin praised their efforts, saying that most of the firefighters from his department were on hand to assist at the scene.

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