Fire did extensive damage to a Western Ave. auto repair shop Thursday, Jan. 17 morning.

At 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, Knoxville Fire Department was dispatched to the 3800 block of Western Ave. for report of a car burning inside the Mighty Muffler business.

Knoxville Fire Department Captain D.J. Corcoran said while dispatchers were talking to the person who called to report the fire, the status changed to now include the building.

A worker reported to fire officials before being sent to U.T. Hospital for smoke inhalation, that he had been using a torch to cut on a vehicle and thinks he may have come in contact with a fuel line. Western Ave. is blocked between Sanderson Rd. and Clifton Rd. No other injuries are reported at this time.

Mighty Muffler will be featured in a story about a United States Marine who had car trouble in Knoxville and the staff of Mighty Muffler came to his aid. That article is to appear in the Jan. 25 Knoxville Journal.

 By Wes Hall