Residents of Solider Road watched helplessly as an ‘inferno’ tore through Strachan’s Auto, sending clouds of black-gray smoke billowing across New Providence.
Some homeowners took to their roofs and attempted to extinguish parts of the fire with garden hoses as the flames seemed to get closer and closer to their backyards.
Police, fire services and the National Emergency Management Agency have been working tirelessly to bring the blaze under control.
Smoke clouds could be seen for miles across New Providence.
According to police, five fire trucks battled the flames which were fueled by hundreds of scrap cars in the auto shop’s junk yard, and threatened several nearby homes.
Residents claim that the scrap yard has been there for more than a decade, housing up to 600 cars, and has caught fire before.
Garden Hills MP and Speaker of the House Kendal Major was at the scene and quickly dubbed the fire an ‘inferno.’
As he looked on at the blaze, he stated: “This is very, very serious.”
He expressed immediate concern for the residents of the surrounding area whose homes were in a potential danger zone.
“I’m very concerned because the winds are high,” he said, explaining the winds could potentially spread the raging flames to the surrounding homes.
