25 FIRE COMPANIES BATTLE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP BLAZE

Cause of fire remains under investigation

AMBLER » The cause of a multi-alarm fire on Main Street in Ambler on Thursday afternoon remains under investigation.

The Wissahickon Fire Company gave details Thursday night on a fire that tied up the borough’s downtown for much of the day.

“At approximately 9:56 a.m. on Feb. 3, the Wissahickon Fire Company was dispatched to a commercial building fire located at 6 South Main Street in Ambler Borough. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and fire showing from several areas of the structure,” said the fire company in a Facebook post late Thursday night.

“With the help of fire companies from various parts of Montgomery County (around 25 fire companies), first responders worked diligently to extinguish the blaze and minimize any damage to nearby homes and businesses,” the company said.

According to posts by the Wissahickon Fire Company and the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, the fire was dispatched just before 10 a.m. at Main Street and West Butler Avenue in Ambler. Photos posted by the fire company show flames and black smoke billowing from a building labeled Ebner’s Auto and R & J Auto Body, while firefighters from numerous area fire companies raised ladders and hoses to attack the blaze.

Wissahickon Fire Company firefighters said Thursday afternoon that firefighters remained at the scene, and the company said “sections of South Main Street between Butler Avenue and Poplar Street remain closed” as of late Thursday, “so please take extra care when traveling through this area.”

The company also expressed thanks to the numerous other responding fire companies and agencies, including the Flourtown, North Penn, Fort Washington, Centre Square, Chalfont, Limerick, Lower Providence, Weldon, New Hanover, Towamencin, Colmar, Harmonville, Skippack, Wyndmoor, Oreland, Worcester, Ringing Hill, Horsham, East Greenville, Montgomery Township, Norriton, Barren Hill, Montclare, and Edgehill fire departments; the Community Ambulance Association of Ambler, the Second Alarmers of Montgomery County, North Penn Goodwill Service, Plymouth Ambulance corps, and Montgomery County Department of Public Safety.

The fire company has not yet responded to multiple requests for additional comment. For more information follow @Lansreporter on Twitter.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW B. BEATTY, NORTH PENN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY Flames can be seen shooting from windows at a reported building fire at Main Street and West Butler Avenue in Ambler on Thursday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW B. BEATTY, NORTH PENN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY Firefighters spray water at the building fire Thursday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW B. BEATTY, NORTH PENN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY Smoke billows at Main Street and West Butler Avenue in Ambler on Thursday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW B. BEATTY, NORTH PENN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY Firefighters battle flames at a building fire at Main Street and West Butler Avenue in Ambler on Thursday.