GARAGE FIRE DESTROYS 15 CLASSIC CARS
Ford Consul, Datsun 240Z and £90k Alvis TC 21 go up in flames – full story and pictures of the damaged cars inside
M ore than £200,000 worth of classic cars have been damaged in a fire at a set of garages in Dorset.
The collection of 15 vehicles – including an MG Midget, Renault 4, Ford Consul and Alvis TC 21 – was damaged in the blaze in Winterbourne Abbas. The cars belong to several classic enthusiasts who were renting the units to store their classics over the winter period. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service admits: ‘The fire’s cause has been classified as undetermined. Because of the extent of the fire, there is not enough evidence to confirm how it started.’ An online crowdfunding effort to raise money for the victims has now been started.
C lassic cars worth more than £200,000 have been damaged in a blaze in Dorset. The set of lock-up buildings burned down late last month, along with 15 classic cars stored in them. The cost of the damage is thought to be in the region of £200,000, including the classic cars, tools, parts, and memorabilia.
The garage units, which are located Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset, are privately owned and were rented out to several classic enthusiasts.
The force of the blaze was so intense that the westbound A35 near the junction of the B3159 was closed for nearly six hours. At the height of the fire, eight fire crews comprising of around 45 firefighters were tackling the blaze. 73 properties went without electricity for two hours. Of the six units affected by the fire, two have been completely destroyed, with the remaining four badly damaged.
Most of the cars in the fire were severely damaged. These include an Alvis TC 21 thought to be worth at least £90,000, a Datsun 240Z, an MG Midget, a Ford 100E and several motorcycles.
But one man has taken it upon himself to do something for the victims.
Local classic car enthusiast Peter Davis visited the site of the blaze as soon as he heard about it. He says: ‘I burst into tears when I saw it. It was like a war zone – I saw a woman who was crying her eyes out.
‘I was absolutely mortified; the fire was so bad. Cars, motorcycles, tools, trophies, memorabilia, magazine clippings – they were all either damaged or destroyed. ‘I didn’t know these people particularly well, but it’s right on my doorstep and I knew I had to do something. So I went in my garage, removed all of my tools and gave them to the people affected. Tools, benches, the lot.
‘These are decent, honest people who have been affected – it’s terribly sad.’
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Matt Brown says: ‘The fire’s cause has been classified as undetermined. Because of the extent of the fire, there is not enough evidence to confirm exactly how it started.’
Paula Roberts from Dorset Police adds: ‘There have been no arrests regarding this incident and investigations are ongoing.’
Since the fire, kind-hearted Peter has set up a Just Giving website for people to donate money to. The aim is to raise £2000 for the people affected, so they can replace some of the tools lost in the fire.