Van bursts into flames at car dealership in Dudley
A van was left gutted and damage caused to a building at a car dealership after the vehicle suddenly burst into flames.
Fire crews from Brierley Hill were called to the T Wall Vauxhall garage, in Pensnett High Street, on Friday.
The van was owned by an independent trader who had come into the garage to carry out work on car tyres.
He had hooked up the van's electrics in preparation for the work and had gone into the garage to see what jobs he needed to do.
When he returned to the vehicle just minutes later it was already engulfed in flames.
Firefighters used breathing equipment and two hoses to put out the fire.
Although the flames did not spread to any buildings the heat was enough to cause damage to a nearby vehicle workshop causing lettering on a sign to melt.
Investigations are still being carried out into what caused the fire - although it is believed to be an electrical fault.
Watch commander Roy Whitehead, of Brierley Hill Fire Station, said it had been a serious fire.
"We are still not entirely sure what caused the van to set alight," he said.
"We think it was an electrical fault.
"No-one was hurt in the fire but there was some heat damage to one of the buildings.
"I ordered the garage be evacuated while the fire was put out."
