Gladstone car wrecker rebuilding after blaze

Business owner Tanya Williams is rebuilding the family's business

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE: Williams Auto Wreckers & Mechanical owner Tanya Williams said the loss of 14 cars in a fire has left a big dent on the business's stock. Tanya also lost her 1960s Ford Falcon in Tuesday's blaze. Picture: Matt Taylor GLA220818FIRE

SOUTH Trees business owner Tanya Williams is rebuilding the family's car wrecking business after a blaze tore through the property on Tuesday afternoon - including burning the family's treasured 1960s Ford Falcon XP.

Two fire crews were called to extinguish a blaze that was spreading at Williams Auto Wreckers & Mechanical on South Trees Drive at 1.45pm.

Mrs Williams said she was lucky the firies arrived before the flames could reach the sheds or her german shepherd dog, which was locked up in the holding yard.

Fire crews worked to extinguish a blaze that broke out at the rear of a car wreckers yard on South Trees Drive on 21 August 2018. Picture: Matt Taylor GLA210818FIRE

Fire crews extinguished one-acre worth of grass damage including 14 cars.

Mrs Williams said while she's lucky no one was injured she is upset about losing her family's prized 1960s Falcon.

"I don't really have much choice but to just get back to things today," the businesswoman said.

"My husband Rick is away on a work trip so he is stressing out and just wants to get home.

"We have about 200 cars so to have 14 damaged is a dent on the scale but we're pretty upset about the Falcon."

Owner of Williams Auto Wreckers & Mechanical Tanya Williams lost her 1960s Ford Falcon in a fire yesterday. Picture: Matt Taylor GLA220818FIRE

Mrs Williams said she was in the workshop having lunch when a staff member came running in.

"I opened up the back door and it was roaring up the yard at this stage," she said.

"The first thing I did was run and get our guard dog.

"Thankfully our staff member is a volunteer fire-fighter in Calliope."

Suffering from some smoke inhalation, Mrs Williams is back at work this morning taking calls from her clients.

"We have to just get on with it. There was a lot of wind which made it worse.

"I have taken photos and sent them to the insurance company and we can't let customers or anyone from the public onto the property.

"The fences are a hazard.

"They could potentially fall on someone."

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have dampened down the area. Queensland Police have reported the fire was not suspicious.