Fire and police officials are investigating a fire that badly damaged six vehicles, including two tow trucks that were parked in a rear lot at R.J. Shore Automotive on Shore Drive in Short Beach.
Fire Chief Jack Ahern said the fire began early Sunday evening in the back parking lot of the automotive business, which provides foreign and domestic repairs and 24 hour towing. He said Fire Marshall Shaun Heffernan and a detective from the Branford Police Department were investigating how and why the fire began.
Chief Ahern said the fire ignited at about 5:30 p.m. and rapidly leaped from one vehicle to the next, seriously damaging all of them. No one was hurt.
“The main fire started in one of their tow trucks,” the chief said in an interview. “Then it spread to another tow truck and then to a pick-up truck and then to three other cars.”
At this juncture damage is estimated at more than $150,000, he said.
The chief said Engines 1, 2 and 4 responded to the scene. The flames were put out within 15 minutes.