Major Fire Destroys Auto Shop and Luxury Car Dealership in Southwest Calgary
Firefighters battled a significant two-alarm blaze that tore through a commercial building housing both an auto body shop and a luxury car dealership in southwest Calgary early Monday morning, leaving multiple high-end vehicles destroyed and the structure heavily damaged.
Early Morning Blaze in Manchester Industrial Area
The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday, March 16, 2026, at a building located in the 5500 block of 1A Street S.W. near 53 Avenue S.W. in Calgary's Manchester Industrial area. Fire crews responded to the two-alarm fire around 5 a.m., with approximately a dozen fire apparatus deployed to the scene to combat the intense blaze.
The smell of smoke permeated several blocks of the industrial neighborhood as firefighters worked to contain the flames that had engulfed the structure housing both Tunerworks, an auto body shop, and Kulu Motorcar, a luxury vehicle dealership.
Extensive Damage to Structure and Vehicles
By 9:30 a.m., smoke continued to billow from windows and through the roof of the building as fire crews worked to extinguish hotspots. The southeast walls of the structure were completely destroyed, exposing what appeared to be the car dealership's showroom interior to the outside.
Multiple luxury vehicles inside the dealership suffered severe damage, with their frames blackened and twisted from the intense heat of the fire. The charred remains of several high-end cars were visible inside the burned-out showroom, representing significant property loss for the business.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Calgary police officers were also present at the scene, assisting with traffic control in the area as fire crews continued their response efforts throughout the morning. The coordinated emergency response helped prevent any reported injuries despite the extensive property damage.
Officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire, which represents one of the more significant commercial property fires in Calgary's recent history. The destruction of both an established auto body shop and a luxury car dealership will have substantial economic implications for the businesses and their employees.
The Manchester Industrial area, typically bustling with commercial activity, experienced significant disruption as emergency vehicles blocked access to the affected section of 1A Street S.W. The full extent of the damage and the timeline for recovery and rebuilding remain uncertain as investigations continue.
