Auto sales owner in Campbell narrowly escapes fire

CAMPBELL — A long-time business owner narrowly escaped injury in a Tuesday afternoon fire.

Frank Kotsol, acting captain for the Campbell Fire Department, said Gary Luc, owner of A & B Auto Sales, 12th Street, was working on a car inside the shop when the fire started at about 2:30 p.m.

“Right now we’re looking at it being accidental,” Kotsol said. “The owner said they had an accident working on a gas tank. A light was dropped and there may have been some fumes that could have sparked it.”

Kotsol said no one was injured, but Luc told firefighters he had a hard time getting out of the garage after the fire broke out.

“The doors were vacuum sealed because of the fire sucking air,” Kotsol said. “He managed to get out, though.”

Kotsol said two cars and several antique vending machines were lost in the fire, and although he said he had no estimates, the shop is most likely a total loss.

“Just about everything in there is fried other than some tools,” he said. “We managed to get his records and money out.”

Kotsol said the fire is under investigation.