AUTO SHOP, LEAVING NEIGHBORS ON EDGE. KMBC KNOX MORGAN MOBLEY IS LIVE AT H AND L AUTO SERVICES ON SAINT JOHN AVENUE TO SHOW US THE DAMAGE. MORGAN. WELL, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. YOU CAN SEE THESE CHARRED CARS RIGHT HERE. RUBBLE JUST FILLING THE PARKING LOT. DEMOLISHED INSIDES OF THE SHOP. AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE PROXIMITY NOW TO THE HOUSE. RIGHT NEXT DOOR. YOU CAN SEE JUST HOW CLOSE THAT IS. I SPOKE WITH THE NEIGHBOR THAT LIVES IN THIS HOME, AND SHE DESCRIBES WHAT SHE SAW WHEN SHE WAS WOKEN UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I COME OVER RIGHT THERE AND I SEE THE FLAME IS REALLY BIG AND THEY MAKE EXPLOSION AND I’M SCARED. OH MY GOD, MAYBE SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN IN MY HOUSE. THE FIRE STARTED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. IT BEGAN IN THE CARS AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE SHOP. THE KANSAS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL WITHIN JUST A FEW MINUTES, SEARCHES OF THE BUILDING CAME BACK ALL CLEAR, AND FIRE OFFICIALS TELL US THERE WERE NO INJURIES. INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL WORKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. WE ALSO SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF THE SHOP HERE, WHO TELLS US THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR HIM. THIS SHOP IS NOT THE ONLY BUILDING OF HIS. THAT’S BURNED DOWN THIS WEEK. REPORTING LIVE IN KANSAS CITY, MORGAN MOBLEY, KMBC NINE NEWS. JUST INCREDIBLE DAMAGE. THANKS, MORGAN. WE’RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HEAR MORE FROM TH
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Overnight fire engulfs Kansas City auto body shop, owner suspects foul play
While fire investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire at H and L Auto, the shop's owner believes it was set intentionally
An overnight fire has left H & L Auto Services, an auto body shop on St. John Avenue in Kansas City, filled with charred cars and rubble.The shop's owner believes foul play was involved.Neighbors who witnessed the flames early Thursday morning were startled by the size of the blaze."I see the flames, really big, and they make an explosion, and I'm scared. Maybe something is going to happen to my house," Esther Oielalana, a resident who has lived nearby with her family for 30 years, said.Oielalana was abruptly woken up by her sister just after midnight. With her kids safe, she ran out of her house. The smell of burning tires quickly filled the air."That smell was, like, plastic stuff. Something really bad," Oielalana said.The shop's owner, Lac Tran, assessed the damage in the daylight on Thursday."This scene is becoming all too familiar. It happened to my house too, last Friday. Just happened. And now my shop," Tran said.While fire investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire at H and L Auto, Tran believes it was intentional."My head is blown out right now, and I know exactly what's going on," he said.The owner didn't want to get any more direct with his suspicions regarding the fire. The Kansas City Fire Department was quick to respond to the scene. They managed to get the fire under control in just a few minutes.Searches of the building came back all clear. Fire officials reported no injuries. Despite the quick response, the fire has left the auto shop in ruins.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
An overnight fire has left H & L Auto Services, an auto body shop on St. John Avenue in Kansas City, filled with charred cars and rubble.
The shop's owner believes foul play was involved.
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Neighbors who witnessed the flames early Thursday morning were startled by the size of the blaze.
"I see the flames, really big, and they make an explosion, and I'm scared. Maybe something is going to happen to my house," Esther Oielalana, a resident who has lived nearby with her family for 30 years, said.
Oielalana was abruptly woken up by her sister just after midnight. With her kids safe, she ran out of her house. The smell of burning tires quickly filled the air.
"That smell was, like, plastic stuff. Something really bad," Oielalana said.
The shop's owner, Lac Tran, assessed the damage in the daylight on Thursday.
"This scene is becoming all too familiar. It happened to my house too, last Friday. Just happened. And now my shop," Tran said.
While fire investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire at H and L Auto, Tran believes it was intentional.
"My head is blown out right now, and I know exactly what's going on," he said.
The owner didn't want to get any more direct with his suspicions regarding the fire.
The Kansas City Fire Department was quick to respond to the scene. They managed to get the fire under control in just a few minutes.
Searches of the building came back all clear. Fire officials reported no injuries.
Despite the quick response, the fire has left the auto shop in ruins.
