Daves Auto garage at 105 Chestnut St. was severely damaged by the fire, which started at about 10 a.m., said Dan Zavada of the Forty Fort Fire Department. A car, forklift and various mechanical equipment inside the building also were destroyed.
Dave Simonitis, owner of the business, said he was working on a car when it suddenly caught fire.
I was working on the fuel system and I guess the fumes caught on fire, Simonitis said as he stood across the street from the burned-out structure.
Simonitis immediately left the building, but could do nothing as the fire consumed the business he had operated for 15 years. He suffered minor burns to his hands and face but declined treatment at the scene.
The garage had been a source of consternation for Simonitis next door neighbor, Theresa Piazza.
Piazza said she had complained for years to the borough about the condition of the building, which is owned by Susan Ferraro of Luzerne. She was also upset Simonitis kept several junk vehicles on the property.
I feared for my life that this was going to happen, that the place would catch fire and my house was going to go, Piazza said.
Zavada said the building was engulfed when firefighters arrived, but they were able to contain the flames to the structure. The blaze was brought under control within about 20 or 30 minutes, he said.
Simonitis conceded the building was in disrepair, but said there was nothing he could do because he rented the structure.
I wasnt doing anything wrong by repairing vehicles. I was doing my job.
Contacted by phone, Ferraro said the borough had ordered her to repair the siding on the structure, but a contractor she hired never showed up.
Zavada said the building is a total loss and he doubts it can be rebuilt. The building was insured, Ferraro said. Simonitis also had insurance on its contents.
