RUMFORD – A midmorning fire on Tuesday destroyed a garage and thousands of dollars of tools, equipment and snowmobiles stored in and around it.

Acting Deputy Chief Rob Dixon said Tuesday afternoon that the garage, owned by Greg Chiasson, apparently caught fire from welding sparks.

He said Chiasson had been welding earlier in the morning. When Chiasson ran out of argon gas, he left for a short time to purchase more. When he returned, the garage was engulfed in flames, Dixon said.

He said about 25 firefighters and five firetrucks from Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield responded to the 9:20 a.m. fire on the Swain Road. He said the Peru Fire Department covered the Rumford Central Fire Station and the Andover Fire Department covered the Rumford Point fire station. Med-Care Ambulance Service also responded.

Firefighters were on the scene until about 12:15 p.m. Members of the Rumford Police Department provided traffic control.

Dixon estimated the value of the equipment and snowmobiles, lawn tractor, tools, and other items, as well as the garage, between $50,000 and $75,000. He said Chiasson had some insurance.

Chiasson’s wife, Kelley, said Tuesday afternoon that the garage and property had been used as a logging operation by a previous owner and part of the equipment lost included an industrial welder.

“This was my husband’s dream garage, for welding, inventing,” she said.