WASHINGTON TWP — Flames early Sunday morning tore through an unattached garage at a house in the village of Hilliards, authorities said.

No one was injured but the structure on Alley Street, just off Branchton Road in Washington Township, was destroyed.

A cause was not immediately known but it appeared to be accidental, said Trooper DuWayne Baird, a deputy state police fire marshal who is investigating.

The blaze was reported a little before 5 a.m. but by then it was too late to save the 17-foot-by-37-foot wood building, fire officials said.

The garage, owned by Robert and Deborah Saper, contained lawn tractors and other equipment. A portion of it also was used as a workshop.

The structure was equipped with electric power and gas heat, Baird said.

There are no nearby fire hydrants and firefighters from five departments had to employ a tanker shuttle for water using a dry hydrant about a mile away.

Dry hydrants are hydrants that rely on a cistern or a pond for water, rather than a water main.

The fire never threatened the owner’s house about 50 feet away; however, a nearby utility pole sustained damage, authorities said.

Damage was estimated at between $40,000 and $50,000. The property was insured, Baird said.

Responding fire departments included North Washington, West Sunbury, Eau Claire, Marion Township and Bruin. Crews were back at their stations by 7:30 a.m.