Fire officials say a garage was engulfed in flames and left a total loss, resulting in $200,000 in damage, in a fire that threatened nearby homes in Woodstock Wednesday morning.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded around 10:58 a.m. Wednesday to the 1300 block of Clay Street in Woodstock for a report of a structure fire.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said firefighters arrived a short time later and found heavy smoke and flames showing from a garage, which was detached.
The garage was located in close proximity to two nearby homes, creating an immediate exposure concern, Vucha said.
The incident was upgraded to a working fire based on the conditions, prompting the response of additional resources from neighboring fire departments.
Firefighters pulled hose lines and had water on the fire within two minutes of arrival, quickly knocking down the bulk of the fire.
Vucha said their actions prevented the fire from extending to the nearby homes.
Fire crews remained on the scene for two additional hours to complete overhaul operations and conduct an investigation.
The homeowners were home at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported to the residents or firefighters, Vucha said.
The structure and contents of the garage are considered a complete loss and an initial damage estimate was $200,000.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.
The fire district said they encourage residents to use caution when charging batteries and battery-powered devices.
Lithium-ion batteries should only be charged using the manufacturer-approved charger, kept away from combustible materials and never left charging unattended or overnight.
The fire district also said residents are reminded that extension cords are intended for temporary use only and should not be used as a long-term power solution.
“Electrical circuits should never be overloaded, as this can create a serious fire hazard,” Vucha said.