Fireworks in Phnom Penh’s Choam Chao commune yesterday had nothing to do with American Independence Day when a mechanic set fire to his own shop and fled the scene.

Police say the owner was smoking a cigarette near his petrol containers while changing a flat tyre when a spark must have jumped.

Flames erupted and police were called to make sure the blaze didn’t spread to neighbours’ homes.

A moto and many tools were damaged, all of which police repossessed until the runaway repairman comes to claim them.

Nokorwat