Charred metal and rubble now sit where decades of racing memories once stood, according to WHAM. Darryl Ruggles says the garage at his Hopewell home held 40 years of racecars, trophies and family milestones before flames destroyed it.
Ruggles said the building served as more than a workshop. He says the space hosted weddings, graduations and birthdays while generations of his family built and worked on racecars inside.
Several cars sat in the garage prepared for a weekend show when the fire started. Though devastated, Ruggles says he’s grateful no one got hurt and for support from the racing community as his family figures out what comes next.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Garage fire under investigation in Hopewell
A garage fire in the town of Hopewell destroyed a structure Wednesday night and remains under investigation by Ontario County authorities.
Deputies and multiple fire departments responded to 3676 Swamp Road around 8:28 p.m. after a report of a structure fire.
When crews arrived, they found a large garage on the east side of the home fully engulfed in flames.
Homeowners Darryl C. Ruggles, 60, and Wendy B. Ruggles, 55, were inside the home at the time along with Alisha L. Vay, 32, and her son. No injuries were reported.
Fire crews extinguished the blaze, but the garage was completely destroyed. Heat from the fire caused minor damage to the east side of the home, though the house itself did not catch fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Ontario County Fire Coordinator and sheriff’s deputies.
Hopewell Fire Department led the response with assistance from Canandaigua City Fire, Canandaigua VA Fire, Crystal Beach Fire, Clifton Springs Fire, Seneca Castle Fire and Cheshire Fire, along with Canandaigua Ambulance.
Several departments, including Shortsville, Farmington and Middlesex, stood by for coverage during the incident. Swamp Road traffic was shut down while crews worked at the scene.
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