Jul 3, 2009 12:25 pm US/Pacific
Fire Damages Well-Known Sacramento Auto Body Shop
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
A well-known Sacramento auto body repair shop was heavily damaged overnight by a fire that firefighters say could have been much worse if not for a man out for a late night bike ride.
It happened on the 1700 block of 34th Street just before 3:00 this morning at the original building used by Bertolucci's Body & Fender Shop. The family-run shop started by Dick Bertolucci has been in business for more than 60 years.
"I actually worked here as a teenager myself so there's a lot of memories here," said Terri Parra, Bertolucci's daughter. Parra accompanied her father to the shop when they got the call about the fire. "When he got here, he was upset. But when we found out how great the fire department was keeping this from being a catastrophe, he calmed down."
The fire was spotted by a bicyclist who happened to be riding by the business. Firefighters were able to control the flames quickly in what could have been an explosive fire fight.
"Flammable liquids, a lot of the auto body paints is always a concern. Plus the cars inside, kind of another fire waiting to happen," said Sacramento City Fire Capt. Jim Doucette.
Two cars inside were damaged and windows were blown out. But the Bertolucci family says it won't be long fore the old place is up and running again.
Firefighters are still investigating the cause.
Firefighters arrived within about three minutes and within 15 minutes had the fire under control. Firefighters were concerned about flammable liquids, like gas and paint, inside the building.
At least two cars were damaged. Bertolucci's first opened for business in 1948 according to their website.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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