Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a fire in Ootischenia around 10:30 Monday morning.
The fire, in a detached shop, was at a property in the 1400 block of Columbia Road.
Five fire trucks from the Ootischenia, Tarrys and Robson Fire Departments responded to the massive blaze. At one point flames lofted 10 metres into the air above the building. Dark smoke could be seen billowing up from the fire from kilometres away.
No one was injured in the fire.
Ootischenia fire chief George Hamm estimates the damage at more than $25,000.
Hamm says the fire was burning for quite some time before it was noticed and called in by a neighbour.
“Garage fires are one the most dangerous fires we fight,” said Hamm. “In a garage you don’t know whether they have welding equipment, oxy-acetylene, fuels, cars, lawnmowers — everything has gasoline in it … all the little cans of oil, paint and var-sol. The fuel load in a garage is extreme.”
Fire crews left the scene around 1 p.m.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Hamm wanted to use this opportunity to remind people to be careful about overloading electric circuits.
“It’s that time of year when people want to plug in extra lights and Christmas stuff,” added Hamm.
