A pile of debris is all that remains of a storage building full of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles after a Thursday fire at Hully Gully on Wharncliffe Road South near Wonderland Road in London. Damage could total $2.5 million, one fire official said Friday. (DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press)
Damage from an early morning blaze at a southwest London recreational vehicle dealer could be as much as $2.5 million, a fire official says.
Flames ripped through a storage building at Hully Gully on Wharncliffe Road South near Wonderland Road, destroying the building and several vehicles inside it.
Damage to the building that housed two service bays and an array of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles is estimated at $500,000, while the value of contents lost is between $1 million and $2 million, said Denise Rose, the acting assistant chief fire prevention officer.
Nearly two dozen firefighters battled the blaze that started about 4:30 a.m. Thursday in sub-zero temperatures. One was taken to hospital.
“He was released yesterday from hospital with no serious injuries,” Rose said Friday.
The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office (OFM) was called in to probe the fire, but the cause hasn’t been determined.
“The OFM has released the scene to police,” Rose said.
A police spokesperson said the fire is still being investigated.
“At this point, there isn’t anything to suggest any criminality,” Const. Juan Romero said.
The fire didn’t damage Hully Gully’s 7,620-square-metre showroom, dubbed the ultimate toy store, and the business remains open.
Owners Randy and Audrey Collins posted a statement on the company’s website thanking quick-acting firefighters for ensuring employees weren’t hurt. A guard dog also escaped injury.
“We await the fire inspectors’ determination,” the statement said.
“Thanks to all for their assist-ance and it will be business as usual.”
twitter.com/DaleatLFPress
