NOTE: The unedited footage of the fire scene has some graphic language in the background. The audio can be muted.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Friday night fire destroyed a garage and several race cars belonging to a popular local race car driver and his family.
The fire, reported at about 8:45 p.m., occurred in the 5100 block of State Street in Kelseyville, according to radio traffic.
Witnesses reported seeing thick plumes of black smoke and open flames, and hearing explosions in the area. Dispatch indicated people were inside the structure when the fire was first reported.
Firefighters at the scene reported that the garage was fully engulfed when they arrived.
Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells, whose agency responded along with Kelseyville Fire, said the garage belonged to Lauren Snider, a driver at Lakeport Speedway and a professional auto mechanic.
Wells confirmed there were people in the garage working on cars when the fire broke out. A cause was not immediately available.
“Nobody was hurt,” said Wells.
The explosions that were reported resulted from igniting fuel and exploding motors, said Wells.
One sprint car was backed out, but Wells said the garage was a total loss, along with its contents, which he said included race cars and boats.
“They lost a lot,” he said.
No other structures were damaged, Wells said.
Kelseyville Fire sent three engines, Lakeport Fire sent one and the California Highway Patrol assisted with traffic control, according to Wells.
Firefighters remained on scene late Friday. Engines were clearing the scene at around 11 p.m., and the incident was terminated at approximately 11:10 p.m.
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