SOUTH FORSYTH ­-- Firefighters escaped injury Sunday night when part of a burning metal building housing an automotive repair business in south Forsyth collapsed as they were fighting the flames.

“Early in the operation, we were going to try to make an initial push to the inside and our units were pulled back by command,” said Forsyth County Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers. “Almost immediately thereafter one side of the building collapsed, so it was certainly a dangerous incident.”

The cause of the fire at Cartech Enterprises remains under investigation, Shivers said. No one was at the business at the time and there were no injuries in the blaze, which leveled the 50,000-square-foot structure.

Eight vehicles inside were destroyed and another four parked outside the building had minor damage.

During the nearly four-hour operation, firefighters were able to contain the flames from spreading to nearby businesses.

“Over half our units in the county were committed to this fire for some time,” Shivers said.

The department’s response involved six engine companies, two ladder trucks, two ambulances and a service vehicle.

Shivers added that staff was spread so thin that a crew from the nearby Johns Creek Fire Department was called in through the mutual assistance program to man Station 10 for Forsyth.