SJFD investigating intentionally set garage fire on WIlmer St.
According to St. Joseph Fire Inspector Steve Henrichson fire crews were called out to the 200 block of Wilmer street just before midnight on a report of a garage fully involved.
“There was fire coming out of every door and window and through the roof by the time our guys got there,” said Henrichson. “It was just a matter of keeping if from spreading any further at that point.”
After battling the fire for around 30 minutes crews were able to finally put it out. However, the cause of what started it in the first place has officials asking questions.
Henrichson said the cause of the fire is believed to have been intentionally set.
“We found a gas can that the owner said was not his inside the doors of the garage,” said Henrichson. “other neighbors heard an explosion.”
SJFD found gas can inside garage doors.
The garage was detached and the only building on that piece of property, however the fire did cause damage to the neighbor’s property near the garage which included damage to a boat, melting the side mirror on a car, and melting part of the metal siding on the neighbor’s house.
The estimated loss on the garage itself it believed to be more than $6,ooo.
Henrichson said no one was injured.
The fire department is now turning the investigation over to the St. Joseph Police Department for detectives to look into who may have started the fire.
Anyone with information in connection to this case is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS