Owner Pat Dalton says he is shocked that this happened. He does not know what could have caused the fire to break out. His auto shop has been at the Southport location since 1995.

The fire was extinguished fairly quickly and was confined to the office area, Michael S. Smith, the county’s fire and emergency services director, said. There was no fire damage to the garage area other than some smoke, he said. There were no injuries.

“The cause continues to be under investigation,” he said. “The fire department requested the assistance of the sheriff’s office.”

The facility has some structural damage, but it is repairable, Smith said.