Firefighters from the Clear Lake Fire Department responded to a significant fire at a residence in the 1000 block of S. 8th St. early Tuesday. Upon arriving at the scene, crews found a detached garage completely engulfed in flames. Despite their swift efforts, the garage, along with its contents, was destroyed. The fire also damaged a nearby structure and a hot tub, though the exact extent of the damage to these was less severe.
The blaze claimed an SUV and a motorcycle that were inside the garage, both of which were completely destroyed. Fire officials estimate the damage to the garage itself to be around $80,000, making it a total loss.
According to the fire department, the fire is believed to have been caused by grease that ignited inside a smoker. The homeowner attempted to control the flames using a fire extinguisher but was unable to contain the fire as it spread rapidly. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Firefighters were able to prevent further damage to the nearby structures and contain the fire, but the department took the opportunity to remind the public of safety protocols when driving near active fire scenes. In a separate incident during the response, one vehicle drove over a fire hose, which could have compromised the water supply to the firefighters if the hose had been damaged.
The Clear Lake Fire Department continues to investigate the cause of the fire, urging residents to exercise caution when using equipment like smokers to avoid similar incidents in the future.
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