$200,000 Damage, No Injuries in Engine Shop Fire

A fire fueled by industrial solvent blazed through a Fountain Valley engine shop Monday afternoon, creating clouds of smoke and collapsing a platform inside.

No injuries were reported in the three-alarm fire at Precision European Engines Inc. in the 11500 block of Coley River Circle. However, the inside of the shop and a third of its roof were heavily damaged by smoke and water. Fire Capt. Joe Cucinotti estimated the damage to the building and its contents at $200,000.

Fire officials believe the fire, which started about 12:30 p.m., was caused by a drying machine used to heat and shrink electrical wires. Sparks from the machine apparently ignited nearby cleaning solvent, and the resulting blaze spread to the rest of the shop.

An elevated platform inside the shop collapsed while firefighters were inside, but none were injured, Cucinotti said. Firefighters extinguished the flames within an hour, but smoke continued to pour from the building for another hour.

Hazardous material crews were called in to contain and clean up solvent and transmission fluid that mixed with water and flowed into the street and a storm basin.