A fire caused extensive damage to an automotive shop and shut down Buford Highway in both directions for nearly two hours Monday morning.
Fire crews were dispatched to the 5800 block of Buford Highway at about 7:10 a.m., authorities said.
An employee of Norcross Auto and Truck Repair reported the blaze after seeing smoke and fire while opening the shop.
“The blaze was burning heavily in a storage area above the office and sent significant smoke and heat throughout the automotive shop,” Gwinnett County fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said.
Several vehicles at the shop had heat and smoke damage, and a hazmat team responded to make sure petroleum products didn’t pose an environmental threat.
Authorities ruled that out, Rutledge said.
Still, fire trucks and hoses blocked Buford Highway as crews worked to fight blaze.
Firefighters were able to get it under control just before 7:40 a.m. without any injuries, Rutledge said.
It is unclear what caused the fire.
Delays on Buford Highway died down by 10:30 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
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