Officials: Suspicious fire destroys dozens of cars at Patchogue auto shop

More than 30 cars went up in flames when a fire broke out early Saturday morning at a Patchogue auto repair shop, and authorities say the fire appears to be suspicious.

News 12 Staff

Oct 12, 2019, 2:44 PM

Updated 1,662 days ago

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More than 30 cars went up in flames when a fire broke out early Saturday morning at a Patchogue auto repair shop, and authorities say the fire appears to be suspicious.
The fire broke out at a shop on East Main Street around 4:45 a.m.
Video from the scene shows intense flames shooting from the area.
North Patchogue Fire Chief Thomas Wassmer says the flames were shooting about 100 feet into the air, triggering multiple explosions.
Five departments responded to the scene and it took them about an hour and a half to get the flames under control.
Fire officials say that the burnt-out shells of 32 cars were left behind.
Wassmer says the fire was most likely set intentionally.
News 12 spoke with the owner of the shop, who says a few of the vehicles that burned belonged to customers, but that most of the vehicles were his. He says that he fixes and resells the cars.
"I was about to cry, because it cost me a lot of effort to build this shop. And when someone came to do this, it put me in a bad mood," said the owner.
It's unclear when the shop will be able to reopen.
Arson investigators and the fire marshal are probing the fire.
 


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