Fire destroys long time Phoenix car shop

PHOENIX - Fire officials say it will take a long time to comb through the debris after Friday night's fire at a long time specialty car shop. 

The fire started around 7:30 p.m. at Arizona Street Rods.

The business has been at that location, near 25th Avenue and McDowell Road, for the past 32 years.

The heavy smoke and flames made it impossible for firefighters to stop the fire from destroying the business and several high priced collector cars inside.

"It is a loss, but life goes on," said Robert Pitzer who lost his 1964 Corvette in the fire. He has owned the car for 47 years and said he was told it was ready for pickup hours before the fire started.

"I was surprised when I saw it on the news," he said. "It was my baby. I had it before marriage, house and kids. Maybe I'll go buy another toy."

Fire officials on the scene Saturday were not ready to give a cause. They are not ruling out anything at this time but said nothing appears suspicious.

"With this kind of business, there are chemicals and a lot of gas and oxygen settling. All the things they use in the industry that are flammable can do a lot of damage," said Fire Investigator Willie Nelson.

Nelson said the origin of the fire was inside.

Firefighters were able to save nearby businesses.

Air15 video showed heavy flames and smoke pouring from the building. Fire spokesman Jonathan Jacobs said the fire was contained to the one business, which is separated from the one next door by a fire wall.

According to the Arizona Street Rods website , "the rod shop has grown into one of America's premier street rod building facilities employing 13 craftsman in 15,000 square feet of shop space."

One firefighter was transported to the hospital for heat exhaustion.

Arizona Public Service had to shut down power to 230 customers for a few hours because of the fire.