Fire destroys 15 cars at Top Gear Panel Beaters in...

Fire destroys 15 cars at Top Gear Panel Beaters in Marondera

Zim Now Writer

At least 15 vehicles that were awaiting service and repairs at Top Gear Panel Beaters in Marondera were reportedly destroyed by fire on Thursday night.

The vehicles were parked inside the building when the fire, whose cause is yet to be ascertained, broke out.

Reports say that the Marondera fire brigade could not attend to the fire as its single fire tender was away for service, resulting in the City of Harare dispatching its fire engine but by the time it arrived at the scene of the fire, the garage and the cars within it had been destroyed.

Mashonaland East provincial police deputy spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Misheck Denhere could not give the exact number of vehicles destroyed.

Sources close to the investigations, however said more than 15 vehicles were destroyed in the inferno.

A witness, Cecilia Chiwara, who lives near the garage, said he alerted the fire brigade about the fire and was told that they did not have equipment to assist.

She said: “I first saw some smoke in the building and I immediately called the owner of the garage and told him about the fire. I then rushed to the fire and ambulance site which is about 100 metres from the garage, and they told me that they did not have any vehicle to use.

“I then called Harare’s fire department and they responded and by the time they got here, the fire had already destroyed all the vehicles in the building.”

Marondera Municipality public relations officer Kudakwashe Tapfumaneyi said:

“The Municipality of Marondera would like to inform Marondera residents and stakeholders that there was a fire outbreak at the Top Gear Panel Beaters in the industrial area last night.

“The fire damaged cars and other property that was within the garage. The Council fire tender was out on routine service and could not be used to respond to the accident.

“However, Council enlisted the assistance of the Harare City emergency services who managed to attend to the accident.

“Council is liaising with the Police and other authorities to try to determine the cause of the fire outbreak. Details of the cause of the outbreak will be released to the public once investigations are concluded,” he said.