Fire heavily damages auto repair shop

7/7/2006

EDON, Ohio - Fire yesterday afternoon extensively damaged a vehicle repair shop north of here in Williams County's Florence Township, authorities said.

A flash fire occurred about 3:10 p.m. as employees were draining gas from a car on a hoist inside Tim's Northwest Truck and Auto on U.S. 20, Florence Township Fire Chief Jay Klingler said.

Flames spread quickly through the 10,000-square-foot structure, which has four bays for vehicle work. Most of the contents were destroyed; nobody was hurt.

Tim and Kimberly Hickman have owned and operated the business since 2000. "There isn't much left," Mrs. Hickman said last night in a telephone interview.

Chief Klingler said it had not yet been determined what started the blaze.

Authorities from the Camden, Mich., fire department, which is investigating the fire, were on scene until late in the evening and were not available to give a damage estimate or further details.

Firefighters from about seven other area fire departments were called to assist in extinguishing the blaze.