By Rebecca Goldfine,Staff Writer

HARRISON – A couple living on Route 117 have lost their garage in a fire that was started by an extension cord malfunction, said a fire official.

Richard Shepard, a state investigator, said the garage, built in 2000, was powered with a cord that ran electricity from the main house.

“It’s just not the way to properly do things,” Shepard said by phone Thursday. “Extension cords are made for temporary, not permanent power.”

The fire began at the junction of two extension cords. “Basically, they deteriorate over time,” Shepard said.

Harrison Fire Chief Tony Hazelton said Eric and Joanne Kalapinski of 348 Norway Road, or Route 117, lost the entire garage, but were able to salvage their two vehicles.

“They were storing some furniture for a friend who was building a house,” which was lost, Hazelton said, and they lost personal items in the fire. Hazelton lives next door to the Kalapinskis.

Eric Kalapinski was in the garage when the fire began before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, but didn’t see the fire behind a wall, Hazelton said. His attention was caught instead by the lights, which began flickering.

By the time firefighters arrived, the garage was fully involved. Fire departments from Harrison and Bridgton took five hours to extinguish the flames.

“We were unable to go inside because of the amount of fire,” Hazelton said. “The second floor collapsed.”

Eric Kalapinski had to be taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation and chest pains, Hazelton said, where he was treated and released.