Suspected electric van battery fire sees garage owner taken to A&E and warning over toxic fumes
ITV Channel's Emma Volney meets garage owner Craig Wilson who says he feels lucky to be alive
A Guernsey garage owner has been taken to hospital for smoke inhalation after its believed the battery in his electric van caught fire.
Emergency services, including three fire engines, responded to the incident at Craig's Motors on Thursday 29 August around 5:20pm.
People are being warned about potentially toxic smoke and debris as the affected building may have been contaminated with asbestos.
Officials are urging residents near the incident, close to Vale Church on Ville Baudu Road, to make sure their windows are closed to stop bad fumes from entering homes.
Watch as the fire takes hold at a Guernsey garage. Video credit: Oliver Bailey
The fire has now been put out but anyone who finds debris in the surrounding area is asked not to touch it and to contact Environmental Health on 01481 221161 if they have any concerns.
Members of the public are also asked to avoid the area where possible with some road diversions in place on Friday (30 August) and firefighters still on scene.
Onlookers watched as balls of fire and smoke leapt over the building's wall, with debris reaching neighbouring properties.
Chief Fire Officer Jon Le Page says: "While it is impossible at this stage to confirm the specific cause of the fire, it is possible to confirm that the lithium-ion battery of the vehicle had become involved in the fire, which created specific challenges for the crews dealing with the incident.
"It is believed that this is the first fire in Guernsey to involve an electric vehicle.
"Fire crews quickly had the majority of the blaze under control and the damage was limited to the roof of the building and the workshop compartment in which the fire started."
Mr Le Page adds that his team are "saddened by the damage caused to this popular local business" and a formal investigation will start once the battery is stable and safe.
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