Portsmouth fire: Southsea car garage fire leaving owner to count the cost of the devastating blaze

Trevor Byng, 46, runs Byngs Auto workshop in Goldsmith Avenue, Southsea which caught light on Wednesday morning.

A huge plume of smoke filled the air of the city as more than 60 firefighters and 10 appliances battled to put out the blaze.

The fire, which started in the car garage’s kitchen, was captured on film by scores of people across Portsmouth.

The blaze raged from just after 10am and was finally put out by 3pm in the afternoon. Crews repeatedly checked the site until 11.30am today, looking for any hot spots.

Fire crews have now stopped repeated inspectors as all hot spots had been extinguished, leaving Mr Byng to try and count the cost of the devastating fire.

Mr Byng, who has run the garage for more than 30 years, said he ‘felt sick’ at facing the clean up.

He said: ‘I don’t really know anything more, I am just in complete shock.

‘I don't know what to do now. All I know is that my garage is completely gutted, but I will try and pick myself back up again.

‘I am shell-shocked, I just didn't expect something like this to ever happen to be honest.’

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A spokesman from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said the incident had been dangerous due to the potential presence of gas cylinders, vehicles and other types of machinery in the garage.

However they said that crews had left the scene yesterday.

They said: ‘The crew from Southsea returned to the scene every few hours overnight to check for further hotspots, but as of 11.30am they confirmed that no further inspections are required.

‘Our crews conducted an initial investigation yesterday to determine that the fire began in the kitchen.

‘Our fire investigation team haven’t been requested to attend so it will be handed to the insurance investigators to deal with.’

Scores of residents were evacuated while the fire raged, and residents were told to keep their windows shut. School pupils had to gather in Priory School.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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