Fire destroys garage outside of Clymers

CLYMERS No one was injured in a fire that destroyed a garage on a property outside of Clymers Saturday afternoon.

Gary Michael, chief of the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department, said he and other firefighters responded to the fire near 400 South and 500 West outside of Clymers at about 1:38 p.m. Saturday.

Corinna Shaw, who lives with her father, Mike Shaw, at the residence, said she was the only one home at the time of the fire and that it spread quickly after she noticed it. No vehicles were in the garage at the time of the fire, she continued. She was able to move the vehicles in the driveway across the street.

"It was just completely, totally engulfed in flames in five minutes," Shaw said. "All I could do was move the vehicles and call 911. It was the fastest fire I've ever seen burn. It was really, really hot with intense, black smoke. It took off like wildfire with this wind."

Corinna Shaw described the structure as a three-car garage with additions on its rear and side. The fire spread to a field next to the garage, she added. Charred siding was also visible on the house on the property.

Michael said the cause of the fire was likely the cardboard Mike Shaw said he burned in a barrel outside the garage before leaving that afternoon. While he said he couldn't be absolutely sure, he based the estimation on the barrel's close proximity to the garage and Saturday afternoon's strong winds.

"It got a good head start on us," Michael said of the wind's contribution to the blaze.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 15 to 20 minutes, Michael estimated, before addressing hot spots until about 4:30 p.m.

The Logansport Fire Department and Burrows Fire Department also assisted at the scene, Michael said.

Reach Mitchell Kirk at mitchell.kirk@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5130

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Fire destroys garage outside of Clymers