Top Notch Auto partially collapses in fire

By Chris Fortune

DeKalb and Southwest Buchanan County fire departments battled a blaze at an auto repair shop Friday that left the building severely damaged.

Crews responded to the scene at Top Notch Auto Repair and Sales at 8000 U.S. Route 59 early Friday afternoon. The building’s walls and the ceiling were partially collapsed, and smoke could be seen billowing from a distance on U.S. Route 59.

An employee said everyone made it safely out of the building.

Mechanic Griffan Hunt said a trailer that an employee was welding caught flames. He was in the building’s auction room when he heard his coworkers calling out that there was a fire.

“I ran in there and walked through the door,” he said. “I looked up and the trailer they were welding on — there was flames coming out of it. I ran and got the fire extinguisher, ran around to where the door was, tried spraying the extinguisher, but it was already empty or something.”

Hunt said employees pulled a water hose over and called 911. He said everything happened quickly, and the fire spread beyond control within five to 10 minutes.

“It spread fast from that trailer because flames were coming out of the top of it all the way to the ceiling,” he said.

Some vehicles were pulled out before flames engulfed the building, and windows shattered as flames spread toward them. But Hunt was grateful for the safety of his coworkers.

“I’m glad everybody’s okay, but it’s a tragedy,” he said.