Fire devastates Ford dealership
Bosses at a Ford car dealership in Nelson are grateful to still be open for business after 12 fire crews worked through the night battling a blaze that extensively damaged a workshop and eight vehicles.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) crews were called to a “significant” fire at MS Ford’s service lane building, which is located behind its showroom on Haven Road, at about 10pm on Saturday, January 25.
The flames left the building and eight cars in ruins, with witnesses reporting hearing explosions at the peak of the drama, but it did not affect the company’s showroom or any other vehicles. No one was hurt in the incident.
MS Ford service manager Kane Squire told Stuff he had no idea what started the fire. He was also full of praise for the firefighters who tackled the blaze, with the last ones not leaving until 5.30am the following day.
A stack of tyres had ignited at the site, which would have presented a challenge, he said. “There’s lots of things back there; welding tanks, oils, airbags.”
Squire, who began working at MS Ford as a teenager and has been there for 13 years, said seeing all the damage was “pretty hard”.
While the service lane will be out of action, the company plans to open the showroom as usual this week.
FENZ shift manager Daniel Reilly said nearby residents had feared the flames would spread to vegetation behind the business and threaten houses. Crews successfully contained the fire, with other risks including a neighbouring petrol station.
Senior Station Officer Craig Davies, the operations commander at the scene, said on Facebook: “A huge thanks to all the crews that came in to help us last night. Not often do we get a fire with all the different aspects this one had. Petrol station with LPG tank and LPG cylinder storage right next door. A workshop full of hazards including acetylene and O2 [oxygen] bottles, 150 airbags exploding, etc, etc. Big night.”
An investigation into the fire is under way.
