A north Goulburn smash repair business sustained internal damage after catching fire on Tuesday afternoon.
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But the result could have been far worse if helpers hadn't come running.
NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Ambulance and police were called to North Goulburn Smash Repairs Rods and Customs on the corner of Wayo and Murac Streets at 1.30pm.
Three NSW Fire and Rescue crews responded, including one from Crookwell. Station officer Darrell Law said black smoke was billowing from the premises.
"When we arrived the fire was in the top of the spray booth and had hit the skylight and chemicals, including paints," he said.
Crews extinguished it within one hour but it wasn't without challenge, given the presence of paint, thinners and gas cylinders.
Station officer Law said the owner did the right thing in switching off power. Nevertheless, outside powerlines arced and firefighters had to withdraw temporarily. The energy provider then fully disconnected power.
"Firies did a good job in accessing the building and getting to the spray booth," he said.
Afterwards, they used thermal imaging to check it was fully extinguished.
Some 20 people helped the owner move cars out of the building to avoid them catching fire.
Kim Steedman, who owns Fire Dynamic opposite, was first on the scene, armed with the extinguishers she supplies. As a trainer, she is experienced in dealing with such incidents.
"I dashed over and started to put it out. One of my workers helped me and we provided other staff with extinguishers," she said.
"At that stage it was becoming involved and we started to evacuate. We all knew what to do and how to react."
Mrs Steedman suffered smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene by ambulance officers.
Owner Paul Tomlinson was grateful to those who helped move eight or nine cars from the premises. About 10 vehicles remained inside but only suffered minor damage to panels.
"It's the second time the paint booth has caught alight and if we re-set it, we won't be putting the same one in," he said.
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He suspected a fault in the booth, which heats and reheats air to baking temperature. The subsequent blaze spread throughout the roof.
"We're lucky in some respects that it wasn't worse but it's not a nice feeling, moreso for customers' cars," he said.
Mr Tomlinson has owned the business since 2000 but the premises is owned by another party.
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