Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang said a passerby reported the fire in the metal garage that contained a family’s minivan and tools.

From Local Sources

JASPER — Fire destroyed a detached, two-car garage and its contents Wednesday in Jasper.

The Jasper Volunteer Fire Department was called to the east end of 37th Street at 10:11 a.m.

Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang said a passerby reported the fire in the metal garage that contained a family’s minivan and tools.

The structure and its contents were a total loss, according to Hochgesang, who estimated the building’s value at $30,000.

The garage had electrical service but further investigation is needed before authorities possibly arrive at a cause for the fire, according to the chief.

Five trucks and 25 firefighters were on the scene for a little over an hour.

During the response, at 10:30 a.m., the fire department was notified of an alarm activation at Forest Products’ 512 E. 30th St. location but that was a false alarm turned over to maintenance staff.

Earlier Wednesday, at 2:10 a.m., the department was called to a sprinkler flow activation at the SureStay Plus, 951 Wernsing Road.

Hochgesang said a lobby-area sprinkler head broke, possibly from a line freeze, and some water was released. One truck and 18 firefighters responded for approximately 30 minutes.