Three classic cars and a tractor were engulfed in flames on Sunday, May 20 after a fire broke out at two workshops on Cemetery Road in Elphinstone.
The Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department was called at 11:10 a.m. to extinguish a fire that had spread from one large workshop to another. Firefighters used exterior tactics to fight the fire because of hazards contained within the buildings, including several fuel sources, welding equipment and toxic smoke.
“Given that we didn’t make entry into there, it’s hard to determine exactly what’s inside,” said Fire Chief Rob Michael. “I’ve heard there were some classic vehicles involved and got some evidence of such.”
Robert Heavens, who lives nearby, was the first to spot the blaze and said he saw the vehicles when prying open the doors to investigate the fire. “We heard the roar of the fire and the crackling and got out of there,” he said. His wife immediately called 911. He said the second building began to catch fire about 10 minutes after the first.
Firefighters arrived within six minutes of the call and 25 firefighters helped contain the fire, finishing between 6:30 and 7 p.m.
The water reservoir in Zone 4, which crew members originally used to fight the fire, did not supply enough water because it is at a higher elevation and is sized for residential fire flow needs. As a result, firefighters had to use pumper trucks to draw water from a nearby hydrant in Zone 3.
No injuries to crew or the public were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown and an investigation is underway.
