MITCHELL—Early Saturday morning, Firefighters from Mitchell and surrounding areas, including Marion, Indian Creek, Shawswick, and Orange County Rural District II, responded to a significant fire at Hughes Auto Repair, located at 406 Kelly St in Mitchell.
Emergency crews were alerted to the blaze at approximately 2:38 a.m. Saturday. Upon arrival, firefighters found the auto repair shop heavily engulfed in flames, creating an intense and dangerous situation.
Adding to the urgency, propane and acetylene tanks inside the garage began to explode. Assistance Fire Chief Wayne Coble acknowledged the inherent risks, stating, “We knew we would be facing some explosions because this is a garage that uses propane and acetylene torches.”
Despite the volatile conditions and intense fire, Chief Coble confirmed that no firefighters sustained injuries while battling the blaze.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time. The State Fire Marshal is currently investigating it.
