Fire guts Woodards American Auto Parts in Ypsilanti Township

Woodards American Auto Parts was gutted today.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

A four-alarm fire gutted Woodards American Auto Parts at 2260 E. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti Township this afternoon.

Employee Henry Moldovanov said he was driving a customer's car into the garage about 1:20 p.m. when he noticed smoke in the adjacent junkyard. He said he grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to put it out but couldn't.

He quickly drove the car out and he and, with the help of another employee, removed oxygen tanks used for torches from the business. Two customers also evacuated the business before the fire spread from the junkyard to the building.

Firefighters from Ypsilanti Township, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township and Superior Township battled the blaze.

Ypsilanti Township Fire Chief Eric Copeland said the fire was accidentally started by a welding torch. Sparks from the torch landed in an open space in the building's east wall, quickly igniting the insulation. The fire spread to the roof within moments.

Copeland did not have a damage estimate, but said he suspected the building is "a total loss."