Auto Shop Will Rise From Ashes

On Dec. 11, 2010 a fire broke out in J&B Auto Body, Inc. shortly after opening for the day. Owner Jay Correia opened the shop at 8 a.m. going about his normal routine. He turned on the lights, heat and went to bring in a customer’s car from the parking lot.

“The next thing I knew I heard the alarm,” said Correia. Neighbors also heard and called the fire department while Correia evacuated gas tanks, thinners and a customer’s car from the building.

The cause of the fire is reported to have started in the furnace. According to the fire department, there was an internal hole in the furnace. The flames went through the ductwork and into the rafters where the fire spread.

There are plans to both rebuild and relocate J&B. Correia points to insurance and weather for the slow recovery.

“It’s been over a month and they’ve just given permission to relocate,” Correia explains.

His insurance is supposed to take inventory by the end of the week, at which point the business can move to an old shop in Ansonia. Correia will keep the Shelton location for shipping and receiving. Customers can drop off vehicles in the Shelton shop and from there the automobiles will be transported to Ansonia. Because of the weather, rebuilding cannot start until spring. Correia estimates that it will be at least six months before the Shelton location can re-open.

Correia wants to thank his neighbors for calling the fire department, the United Cleaning Company for coming and securing the building before the storm, Chris Jones for taking Correia to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and Donna and Steve for everything they did for him. Donna stayed with Correia in the hospital while Steve orchestrated the shop. Correia expressed his thanks for all the support and help he’s been offered, “A lot of people reached out,” he said.