NEW BRITAIN -- Emergency crews were dispatched to St. Claire Avenue in New Britain around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for reports of a car fire.
"We got the call of a car fire, then it was updated to multiple cars on fire and then it started extending into the building,” Fire Chief Raul Ortiz told FOX61,
Four cars were on fire in front of the Auto Body Shop with a total of seven cars damaged.
According to Ortiz, there was no damage to the inside of the Auto Body Shop, but the exterior may of had a sign or two melted.
Jay Lemire was on his way back to his apartment when he saw black smoke down the street.
Lemire says, “we just kept hearing little explosions, the glass was popping up we could see it all happen, but they got to the flames pretty quick.”
According to officials, the fire took 20 minutes to put out, having to mitigate a fire stream after they say some of the gas tanks let go.
One person was rushed to the hospital with burns to the face.
Officials tell FOX61 this is not an arson situation and they believe the fire was caused by people working on the cars.
No other details were released.