A Surrey garage specialising in restoring classic cars has been badly damaged after a fire broke out and a mechanic has been treated for burns.
It’s believed the blaze at Ockley Classics in Dorking was sparked when a mechanic was working on a car. He was treated by paramedics for burns to his face and hands.
Firefighters also had to cool down cylinders on the site to minimise the risk of an explosion. Due to the type of equipment on site at a workshop, it’s essential to have the right level of motor trade insurance to cover your business, its contents and any customer property on site.
The danger posed by the cylinders at Ockley Classics meant that people living nearby were evacuated from their homes, the adjoining service station was cleared of people and roads were closed.
A firefighter who attended the blaze told the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser: “There were a large number of combustibles in there. There were cylinders involved in the fire so they had to be cooled down.
“There were a couple of damaged cars and a lot of damaged machinery. We had to evacuate the houses in case of explosions. The service station had to be evacuated and isolated."
Firefighters from three local stations were called to the scene and police attended to close roads and manage traffic.
An investigation has been started into the cause of the fire, which is not believed to be suspicious. It’s thought that the blaze started accidentally when the mechanic was working on a car.
A police spokesman said: “Police were contacted by the fire service and went down to help with road closures and traffic management. There were some neighbouring properties that had to be evacuated to be on the safe side."
The extent of the damage caused to vehicles, equipment and property in the workshop has not yet been revealed.
