Classic cars spared in Mershon’s fire

The fire, which was apparently caused by a heating unit, damages garage area.

SPRINGFIELD — A fire that appeared to have started in a heating unit above Mershon’s World of Cars caused moderate damage to a garage area but spared the classic cars in the showroom below.

Springfield Fire/Rescue Division personnel were dispatched to 201 E. North Street at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday after an employee reported seeing and smelling smoke, but no flames, in and around the ceiling tiles. When fire officials arrived, they reported it as a working fire and called additional engines for assistance.

Firefighters maneuvered ladders and hoses around a red Corvette as they pulled down ceiling tiles and insulation to get to the fire and its source. The fire was out within about 20 minutes.

The area around the heater indicated it had been charring the wood for some time, said Battalion Chief Marc Lloyd. It was fortunate employees were still in the building and smelled the smoke, he said.

“If this would have happened at 1 or 2 in the morning, there’s potential it would have set the roof on fire,” he said. “It would have gotten a jump on us, and no one would know about it until somebody drove by and saw it.”

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