Flames engulfed C&L Auto Repair in Hatfield Monday after the owner spilled gasoline in one of the garage bays. For the owners of Spartan Brake and Muffler in West Springfield, the fire brought back disturbing memories.

Last March, their shop burst into flames, nearly killing George Katsoulis as he worked on a car. His brother Nick recalls that day.

Nick Katsoulis said, "In our particular case it was not gasoline that caught on fire but gasoline fumes caught on fire from a cutting spark."

The West Springfield repair shop re-opened 3 weeks ago, with fire safety in mind. Spartan has taken precautions to make sure a fuel fire never happens here again.

Katsoulis said, "A system of floor drains and oil and gas separators that enable us to in the event that there is some kind of spill to easily and quickly clean it up."

The fire in Hatfield was started when gasoline spilled and was ignited by a light bulb.

Katsoulis said, "A lot of times in automobile shops people will use drop lights to get extra light into the tight corners underneath hoods and underneath vehicles and of course when you drop a light bulb next to a gasoline or chemical source that's flammable certainly that can cause a spark and a fire."

Katsoulis says what people need to remember is that no matter how many years they've been working on cars, people need to remember that vehicles are complicated machines filled with hazardous and flammable chemicals. So, every precautions should be taken to prevent fires like this.

The fire at Spartan Brake and Muffler also damaged the Richards restaurant next door.

The restaurant's renovation is nearly complete and should be open sometime next month.