talkinglimos

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a blaze ripped through industrial units this morning, gutting a limousine hire firm.

Firefighters had to break into the Sophie's Limos building on Garden City Industrial Estate, and battled for 40 minutes to contain the rapidly spreading fire.

Two fire crews from Deeside and one from Chester rushed to the scene at 6.28am.

Firefighters worked in tough conditions, battling through high temperatures to extinguish the fire.

Fire investigators were on the scene this morning, working to determine the cause.

Two limousines and a transit van, as well as £3,000 worth of equipment and tools, were completely destroyed at the firm.

Speaking to the Evening Leader at the scene this morning, Sophie's Limos owner Katie Stubbs, 22, said she was devastated by the blaze.

She said: "I set up the business a year ago and we had started doing well. Now we have lost everything.

"We only moved the cars into the unit six months ago."

"I'm waiting to see the outcome of the investigation to find out about the insurance situation, but I am devastated and it is a very worrying time."

"We have lost all our order books – we had six bookings this weekend for parties, and 37 bookings up to the end of August."

"We have lost them now, but we are hoping that if people have booked they will get in touch and we'll do what we can to do the jobs."

Anyone who has a booking with the firm, or who can help them fulfill their order books, should contact Katie on 01244 682540.

Ian Williams, Flintshire county operations manager for the fire service, said this morning: "Because of the security of the building, fire crews had to break into the building to make an attempt at extinguishing the fire.

"Crews used one main jet and two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.

"Due to the construction of the building, temperatures were extremely high which made conditions very difficult for fire crews.

"In unit 23 (Sophie's Limos), there were two limousines and a transit van as well as other workshop tools.

"The fire was eventually extinguished and we used positive pressure ventilation to clear the smoke, which has now enabled the fire investigation team to determine the cause."