Customer reacts to fire at Maaco

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - WTOC is working to get answers for customers after a fire that engulfed part of the Maaco autobody shop on Victory Drive.

Damage from the fire can be clearly seen on the garage door at the Maaco autobody shop in Savannah, right outside of Skidaway. The fire occurred earlier this week.

The flames didn’t just damage the garage door or the interior of the building. About a dozen or so cars were also inside during the time of the fire.

One of the owners of those vehicles says he’s left confused about the process and claims Maaco hasn’t been getting back to customers regarding the safety and health of their cars.

“I’ve been feeling very anxious about the process because I can’t really get information from Maaco, and I’m the one who’s having to find all this stuff out for myself,” said George Thomas, a customer affected by the fire.

Thomas says his car was new, but he hasn’t been able to check the damage because Maaco has not been cooperating with his insurance company.

“Thursday when they said that they’d be in touch, nobody got in touch,” said Thomas. “The insurance company tried to contact them and left a voicemail, but they haven’t really received any helpful information.”

According to Thomas, the only information he’s received is that he can pick up his car. But he’s concerned that if he does, he won’t receive reimbursement for the damages caused during the fire.

“No one has taken any steps to inform me about the dangers the insidious dangers of smoke damage that are going to take several months to manifest. So my concern is that you have a lot of customers here who are going to pick their car up not aware of the hazards they’re taking on,” said Thomas.

Images show his BMW engulfed in smoke. Experts say smoke can cause deterioration and lead to reduced driving performance.

WTOC spoke with several Maaco employees, but they declined to comment.

Thomas is urging other customers with vehicles involved in the fire to have their insurance company check for damage before driving away with them.

“Because after you pick it up, it becomes very difficult to prove that the damages that you experienced later on were caused by the fire,” said Thomas.