Fire badly damaged a Howe Avenue auto body repair shop Saturday. No injuries were reported.
An employee arrived at work at J&B Auto at 582 Howe Ave. and saw flames and smoke pouring from a furnace. The fire spread quickly into the ceiling.
Shelton firefighters, many of whom were already working a fatal crash on Route 8, arrived on the scene at about 8:15 a.m.
Heavy smoke poured from the top of the building and out the garage bays. One car was on a lift inside the shop. Firefighters were wary of the hazardous materials inside the body shop.
“(We) went in, made a very aggressive attack. We protected the hazards. As we were doing that, we had teams going in to move the oxy acetylene tanks and other compressed cylinders as well,” Shelton Assistant Fire Chief Paul Wilson said.
Firefighters used a ladder truck to access the roof, where they cut out three large holes to vent the flames.
About 70 firefighters were on the scene from the four Shelton fire companies. Derby firefighters were called in to assist, as per protocol.
The fire was under control by 8:50 a.m.
The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause and origin.
