MECHANICS escaped a potentially serious incident when a car turned into a fireball in their garage.
The Vauxhall Corsa became engulfed in flames at TC Auto on Manchester Road in Milnsbridge at about 10am on Saturday.
It is believed it was set on fire by some welding equipment that had been left on nearby.
A passerby saw smoke pouring out of the repair centre and alerted a passing police officer.
The officer rushed into the garage to tell the three mechanics to get out.
Watch manager Andy Blackburn, from Huddersfield Fire Station, said they managed to drag the car outside.
He said: “It was well alight when we got there and there were flames licking up the side of the building.
“Police were there and quite a large crowd had gathered.
“Fortunately, thanks to the quick-thinking of the passerby and police, a much more serious incident was prevented.
“If it had been allowed to develop much longer, you don’t know what might have happened.”
Police closed one lane of Manchester Road while firefighters used jets to put the fire out.
The car was completely destroyed in the incident, which took about an hour to deal with.