AUBURN – A public works driver hauling snow early Wednesday alerted firefighters that a garage was burning on Court Street.
The 12:30 a.m. blaze at 450 Court St. destroyed a three-bay garage, three cars and other items being stored inside. No one was hurt.
Fire investigators said the early morning fire began when ashes from a wood stove burned through a plastic container inside the garage behind the two-story house.
Firefighters kept flames from spreading to the nearby home, but the cars, a snowblower, furniture and toys burned in the fire.
“They basically lost everything that was in there,” said Auburn Fire Prevention Officer Gary Simard.
The home is owned by Reggie and Lyn DeRocher, who were asleep inside their home a short distance from the garage at the time.
“The owners were awakened by police who arrived at the scene,” Simard said.
The house did not sustain heat or fire damage. Early estimates of the losses from the garage were at $50,000, Simard said.
The home is located on a hill near the intersection of Court Street and Western Avenue. Simard said a public works driver was hauling snow to Edward Little High School when he spotted the blaze.
Fire crews made quick work of the fire, but flames had gutted the garage and it was considered a total loss.
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