Fire Damages Don and Wally’s Service Center on Route 1-September 20, 1982

An accidentally spilled gasoline incident is suspected of triggering a late Friday afternoon fire that caused significant structural and equipment damage at Don and Wally’s Service Center along Route 1.

Fire Damage and Extent of Losses

According to Fire Captain Robert Malloy, the blaze caused the 10-bay service station’s roof to buckle, destroyed an automobile undergoing maintenance inside the shop, and generated heavy smoke throughout the building. The fire resulted in approximately $35,000 in structural damage to the facility, while tools and equipment valued at $10,000 were completely ruined alongside damage to several other vehicles parked inside for servicing.

Two individuals sustained minor injuries during the emergency response: one firefighter and one service station worker. Prompt intervention by local fire crews prevented the flames from consuming the entire commercial structure, though the extensive heat, smoke, and structural buckling left the multi-bay garage in need of major repairs.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger

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