Public Statement from AC Wizard Auto Air Conditioning

13/07/2025

To our valued customers, friends, and community:

Founded in 2011, AC Wizard Auto Air Conditioning began with a simple mission: to deliver honest, affordable, and high-quality air conditioning repair services to our local community. From humble beginnings—marked by long days, sleepless nights, and personal sacrifice—we gradually built our reputation through hard work, dedication, and the unwavering support of family, friends, and loyal customers.

Over the years, we’ve grown significantly, investing in advanced equipment and expanding our services to include everything from everyday vehicle AC servicing to complex repairs on heavy plant machinery and classic car retrofits.

However, we now face one of the most difficult moments in our history.

On the evening of Tuesday, July 9th, 2025—just days after the tragic passing of his mother—our founder George received the call no business owner ever wants to hear: a fire had broken out at our storage unit. By the time he arrived, the entire unit—including nearly 15 years’ worth of tools and specialized equipment—was engulfed in flames and ultimately lost.

The fire service responded approximately 30 minutes after the blaze began. George was on scene immediately to inform the fire chief of potential hazards within the unit, including aerosol cans and pressurized refrigerant gas cylinders. Thanks to proper training and strict adherence to safety protocols, all hazardous materials remained secure throughout the incident. While onlookers may have heard popping sounds, these were likely aerosol cans or gas valves releasing pressure as designed. All refrigerant cylinders remained upright, vented safely, and did not contribute to the spread of the fire.

We want to make it clear: this fire was not caused by our equipment or storage practices. George is fully trained and certified in the safe handling of refrigerant gases—a responsibility he takes extremely seriously and regularly educates others about.

The fire is currently believed to have been started accidentally by an individual using a blowtorch to strip paint from the garage doors—a person who was neither employed nor authorized by AC Wizard. This individual had been previously warned by others not to use a blowtorch due to the associated risks. When George left the premises earlier that day, the individual was using a sander. It is alleged that the blowtorch was brought back into use after George had left. George ensured that all equipment was safely turned off and stored before leaving. He was not present when the fire broke out and could not have foreseen or prevented the incident.

Despite the heartbreak, we have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our local community. From our neighbour Kirsty—who graciously welcomed George and helped him stay calm—to the many individuals, businesses, and even fellow competitors who have reached out with offers of help, we are incredibly grateful. Your kindness has been a light in one of our darkest times.

While this has been a devastating loss, we are not defeated. We will take time to grieve, reflect, and regroup—but AC Wizard will return stronger and better than ever.

If you’d like to support our recovery, we’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign to help us rebuild. Any contribution, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated:🔗 https://gofund.me/93c3097f

For ongoing updates, please visit our website at www.AC-Wizard.co.uk or follow us on Facebook.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for standing with us.

AC Wizard Auto Air Conditioning Serving our community with honesty and heart since 2011