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WASHINGTON - A roaring fire erupted Wednesday afternoon at Vigue Bros. auto garage on Route 17, near the intersection of Route 220, when a mechanic was removing a gasoline tank from a vehicle being repaired. The mechanic was taken by personal vehicle to an area hospital after suffering burns while trying to extinguish the fire, Fire Chief Thomas Johnston said Wednesday. The chief did not know the worker's last name, but said he had been working on the vehicle. He did know that the man was treated and then released from the medical facility.


The combination of tires, gasoline and other flammable items typically inside a repair station fueled the 1 p.m. blaze at the auto repair shop and used-car sales business, Johnston said. The blaze drew about 45 local and mutual aid firefighters from Washington, Union, Jefferson, Somerville and Whitefield, he said, as well as equipment and engines from those towns.

Vigue Bros. is owned by Tim and Chris Vigue, Johnston said, noting they started the business about 15 years ago.

The garage and all equipment were destroyed, Johnston said, noting firefighters were able to access the office and remove business records and computer information.

Johnston believes three people were working at the time the fire broke out, but no one else was injured. Two vehicles inside the garage were also ruined. The chief did not have a dollar amount of damage to the property.

Because the condition of the building was unsafe once the fire was doused, an excavator was brought in to help knock down the remaining structure and smother the fire.