PARKER TWP — Fire destroyed a garage around 8:30 p.m. Monday at 2275 Kittanning Pike, according to Bruin Assistant Fire Chief Tim Slagle.

Richard Sherman was home with his wife and two children at the time, just yards from the garage, which is not attached to the house.

Michelle Pennington, who lives across the street from the Shermans, was coming home when she saw the fire.

“I looked over and saw a little bit of flame, and I started running up the driveway and calling 911 and pounding on the door,” Pennington said.

Pennington reached emergency responders with her cell phone, and the Shermans got out of the house and a safe distance from the garage. No one was injured.

“I’m just thankful they’re OK,” Pennington said.

Slagle said that, aided by a fire hydrant in the front yard, firefighters were able to get most of the fire extinguished in a couple minutes.

“(The garage) was fully involved when we came here,” Slagle said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. The Butler state police fire marshal will investigate.

“It’s not suspicious in any way,” Slagle said.

The garage was destroyed. Slagle said that because the electrical lines from the garage and the house are connected, West Penn Power deemed the situation unsafe and cut the power to the house.

The American Red Cross provided shelter for the Shermans.

Volunteer fire departments from Bruin, Parker, Petrolia, Emlenton and Chicora responded. Petrolia Ambulance also was on the scene.