IT WAS a bad week for fires last week with a well-known McGraths Hill motor vehicle accessories and fitting business destroyed by fire over the weekend, and a wheelie bin arson spree in Richmond.
The fire at Coldy’s Towbars and Bullbars broke out shortly after 5am on Saturday, January 19, on Wingate Road, McGraths Hill.
Fire crews said that when they first arrived, the factory was already well alight with flames coming through the roof.
Fire and Rescue NSW Windsor station captain Kim Roche said it took about 40 firefighters three hours to bring the blaze under control. It was believed to have been started by an electrical fault.
Despite losing his entire workshop and showroom worth more than $1 million, it’s back to business for owner Dave Coldrake and his staff.
“There’s plenty of other people out there going through tough times,” Mr Coldrake said. “It is definitely a setback, but one we’ve had to accept and now we’re moving on.
“We’ve had a lot of support from members of the community, family and friends and more than 60 of them have helped us to relocate around the corner to Cuneen Street where we will now be based temporarily.’’
Meanwhile, a mechanics business in Bosworth Street, Richmond, was lucky to escape with just damage to parts of the roof and wall when a fire was started by a blazing wheelie bin on Friday morning.
‘‘This is the first time anything like this has happened here and most of the damage was to the building and not the contents,’’ owner of T.H Williams Automotive, Tony Williams said.
Hawkesbury Local Area Command crime manager, Inspector Paul McHugh said a number of fires were lit in the Richmond CBD between Thursday night, January 17, and Friday morning, January 18, including two wheelie bins in Chapel Street, Richmond, a bin in a property also located off Windsor Street in Richmond, a bin in Bosworth Street in Richmond as well as the T.H Williams Automotive one.
‘‘Police have since canvassed residences and businesses in the area, but encourage any person who may have information with respect to the fires to call Windsor Police on 4587 4099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,’’ he said.