Fire destroys garage in Concord
No one was injured when flames ripped through a detached garage Monday night in an accidental fire in Concord Township.
The blaze, which destroyed the structure, apparently started as the owner was repairing a vehicle at his home on Valley Road, according to authorities said. No one was injured.
Damage to the two-stall garage — an approximately 100-foot-by-100-foot pole metal building — and its contents was estimated at between $100,000 and $110,000. The property was insured.
The owner, Joseph Cherry, was welding a vehicle when sparks ignited the fire shortly before 6:30 p.m., said Dan Bunyan, chief of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department.
“He told us he was welding a car on a lift and he noticed (the car) catch on fire,” Bunyan said.
Flames overtook the building - which housed several vehicles, welding equipment, air compressors and other property - by the time fire crews arrived.
“It was fully involved,” Bunyan said, “and there was heavy black smoke coming from it,” Bunyan said.
West Sunbury firefighters used a two-and-a-half inch hose line and Unionville firefighters, who assisted, used a deck gun, to attack the blaze.
Crews also had their eyes on another garage next to the building, fearing it, too, might catch fire.
“We immediately put water on the other garage,” Bunyan said. That garage, which contained fishing gear and other items, was apparently not damaged.
The fire was under control in about an hour. During the fire fight, a metal roof on the building collapsed.
The Concord Township road crew was later called in and used a backhoe to pull out the remains of the roof.
About 30 firefighters from four departments helped battle the blaze.
Also assisting were firefighters from North Washington and Marion Township.
West Sunbury crews remained at the scene until about 10:30 p.m.
