A house and vintage cars – themselves worth an estimated £500,000- were destroyed in last night’s blaze at Thorney.
Sixty firefighters tackled the blaze that began in a garage and rapidly spread to the adjoining house.
One man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation; his condition is not known.
Cars destroyed included a Bentley, Rolls Royce and Beauford - all used by Melvin and Susan Dolby’s classic wedding cars business that operated from the premises.
The fire started in the garage of Wayside at The Causeway, Thorney, and rapidly spread to the house due to the strong winds of Storm Imogen and the presence of a fuel tank, leaving the premises burnt to the ground.
Fire crews were called at 6.05pm and the first crews in attendance immediately requested further fire engines.
Sean Brown, incident commander of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, said: “The garage contained a number of cars which were all burnt out.
“This was a particularly difficult fire to tackle which was exacerbated by strong winds, cylinders in the garage and the need for a large water supply.
“We used a relay of fire engines to bring water to the scene from a nearby hydrant and the fire was under control by 10pm.
“Sadly the fire has completely destroyed the garage, its contents and the adjoining house.”
The incident was scaled down shortly after 11pm and two fire engines remained at the scene overnight.
Fire chiefs believe the fire was started accidentally.
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