By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Although firefighters from the Galion and Crestline fire departments were able to keep a garage fire from spreading to the nearby house Friday morning, the loss could still run well into the thousands of dollars.
“I have no clue yet,” Galion Fire Chief Phil Jackson said as to whether the fire at 420 Jackson Rd., just southeast of Galion near the Morrow County line, began in the garage or a vehicle. “Once we get it knocked down a little bit and identify an area (where it started), we can begin an investigation.”
The house and property are owned by Julie and Joe Murphy. Julie, her daughter and a guest were home at the time of the fire. The guest asked Julie if she was burning something back by the garage.
“I saw smoke coming from the garage, a (relative’s) car parked beside the garage had flames coming out of it,” Murphy said. “I ran inside and called 9-1-1.”
Jackson said he called the Crestline Fire Department and asked them to bring another pumper. The chief said there were “lots of contents” in the garage making a damage estimate difficult. The garage sustained heavy damage inside and out.
The car outside the garage was a complete loss and Murphy said her husband had a new welder and compressor inside the garage, along with a large quantity of tools and a motorcycle among other things.
No one at the house or any of the firefighters were injured in extinguishing the blaze.