In just a few hours, flames destroyed what took decades to build for one Southeast side mechanic.
Last Thursday’s fire on the Southeast side off of E. Wyoming St. and S. Arcadia Ave. tore through Hector’s Auto Body, leaving nothing but charred cars and heartbreak for the owner, Hector Lara, and his family. It was a family-run shop that had been in business for more than 20 years.
On the evening of May 24th, Lara says he smelled something burning while working with his brother and quickly noticed a fire in the neighboring lot coming closer to his shop.
“Traté de apagarlo y no, pues no había agua, jalé la manguera, no había agua y pues ya se vino, se vino más, se metió a la lumbre y salimos nosotros,” dijo Lara.
“I tried to put it out and I couldn’t because there was no water, I pulled the hose and there was no water, and well, it kept coming and getting closer. And the fire got in and we got out,” said Lara.
Lara called 911, and hours later, after the Rural Metro Fire Department (RMFD) contained the fire, only burned cars and softened tools were left…