A fire broke out at Huronia Auto Service in Stayner Friday, April 3 when a flaming vehicle rolled into the building.
“The call came in as a vehicle fire,” said Clearview Township deputy fire chief Roree Payment. “When I arrived the vehicle was actually inside of the building.”
He said a flatbed tow truck caught fire and then the engine started and the vehicle, which was in gear, drove through the overhead door, igniting the building.
A man who was working alone at the time attempted to put out the flames using two fire extinguishers.
Crews were just finishing their ice water rescue skills training when they were called to the business, located at 207 Industrial Rd.
Initially two trucks responded to the call just before 4 p.m.
Once the scale of the fire was known, crews from all five Clearview fire stations attended and had the fire under control in about 45 minutes.
The male worker was transported to hospital to be assessed for smoke inhalation.
The damage to the building, primarily in the garage area, and the tow truck is estimated at $400,000 to $500,000.
Because of the high cost of the damages, the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal was called and the Ministry of Labour was also contacted.