A three-alarm fire that broke out Thursday morning inside a storage building at Hully Gully — a large powersports and marine dealer located in southwest London — is now under control.
Wonderland Road North remains closed at Wharncliffe. Water is flooding the road and is now freezing solid. Southbound traffic is getting through.
More than 20 firefighters responded to the fire on a frigid morning with outside temperatures in the - 15 C range. One firefighter was taken to hospital with a head injury.
VIDEO. The latest from scene of a 3 alarm fire at Hully Gully sports in SW #ldnont. Crews cleaning up now. No word on cause. pic.twitter.com/jSk6gHvfRR — @AndrewLuptonCBC
London Fire District Chief Andy Britton told CBC News the blaze was contained to a storage building on the back lot. He said the building contained a number of boats, ATVs and other vehicles.
He said the main building was not damaged but when firefighters arrived, the flames were 30 metres high.
Here’s Lond fire dept on the challenges of fighting a fire in frigid conditions. #Ldnont pic.twitter.com/elh2afayTO — @AndrewLuptonCBC
An aerial truck works to douse a fire that broke out early Thursday morning at Hully Gully, a motorsports dealership in southwest London. (Andrew Lupton/CBC)
"When we originally arrived, there was a couple of explosions. The main structure was unaffected. The guys did a great stop," said Britton.
Britton said the fire represents a "substantial loss" to the business but said he couldn't estimate a dollar value until speaking with the owner.
Hully Gully owners Randy and Audrey Collins posted a message on CBC London's Facebook page.
They praised the "quick action" of the London fire department and said a guard dog that was on the lot when the fire broke out is safe.
The Ontario Fire Marshal has been called in.
Fire at Hully gully @CTVNews pic.twitter.com/SJnbBWIuLM — @sarahkdymond
Flames can be seen from behind main showroom in this Facebook video
Smoke billowed over southwest London as fire crews dealt with an early morning fire.
The London Fire Department was called to the fire at Hully Gully The Ultimate Toy Store just before 5 a.m. Thursday.
Fire officials say they were able to stop the blaze before entered the storefront but the fire did extensive damage to a storage facility that housed boats and ATV’s in the back. Officials say damage from the fire could exceed $1 million.
Fire crews had the blaze contained by 8 a.m., there’s no word on the cause of the fire.
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“We told the crews to maintain a defensive position because of the explosion and the subsequent collapse of the structure itself. We had flames 100 feet in the air and very turbulent black billowing smoke. It was quite a significant fire,” said District Chief Andy Britton.
The Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office has been called in to investigate.
There’s no word on what caused the fire and no word on whether anyone was injured.
Eight trucks and over 30 firefighters were needed to contain the blaze.
Fire crews battle an early morning fire at Hully Gully, at the corner of Wonderland Rd and Wharncliffe Rd pic.twitter.com/GCE1qTjDpx — 980 CFPL London News (@AM980News) December 28, 2017
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No injuries were reported. Fire crews were even able to save a guard dog on the property.
“When we arrived we were told there was a guard dog in the back, in a cage. The workers couldn’t retrieve him because the smoke and the flames were too heavy. We were able to get the dog, he’s safe,” said Britton.
Wharncliffe Road South and Wonderland Road South were both closed for a short time while fire crews battled the blaze.
Damage estimates are expected to be high after a spectacular fire at a London recreational vehicle dealership destroyed a storage building behind the main showroom early Thursday.
Flames lit up the sky after fire broke out at about 4:30 a.m. at Hully Gully, located at Wonderland and Wharncliffe roads in the city’s south end.
There were reports of small explosions inside the building while the fire roared through the structure that had two service bays and housed an array motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. Video footage obtained by The Free Press showed at least one possible ball of fire shooting into the air.
Also lost were two tractors used for snowblowing and moving boats around the property and a forklift.
More than 20 firefighters responded to the blaze in freezing temperatures. One firefighter was injured and sent to hospital with undisclosed injuries, said London Fire district chief Shawn Fitzgerald.
A cause hasn't been determined as of yet and the damage estimate will be “a large dollar value.”
Hully Gully CEO Randy Collins said the fire was called in by London Transit employees who work at the building just north of the business and from their own security guards.
“The London Fire Department got here very, very quickly and contained the fire into one building,” he said.
A guard dog was rescued from the blaze, he said.
Collins said they were open for business as usual by 9:20 a.m. on Thursday.
CTV London
A fire destroyed a warehouse and caused between $2 million and $3 million in damage at Hully Gully Powersports and Marine in London.
Fire inspectors remain on scene of the massive early morning blaze Thursday.
New boats, ATVs and snow machines were all inside the warehouse.
One firefighter was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation while battling the fire, but is expected to be OK.
A passerby on her way to work just before 5 a.m. noticed the fire on the property at Wharncliffe and Wonderland. More than 20 firefighters arrived to a fully involved rear storage unit with flames shooting high into the night sky. Witnesses also report hearing a number of small explosions.
Aerial ladders were deployed over the fire to contain the fire to the warehouse, and store owners say Hully Gully is open for business today despite the fire. Owner Randy Collins said the loss was "tough to take" but expresses thanks for the efforts of London firefighters to help save the fourth generation business.
The cold impacted the firefighters.
"At first we had the heat coming off the building, which was able to keep us warm, but as the fire burned down and we were putting it out, we could really feel the cold," said one firefighter.
