Garage Fire: No One Home, No One Hurt, No Cause Known

A fire in Fridley's far northwest corner Wednesday did damage to the outside of a garage Wednesday morning at 590 Kimball St. NE.

No one was home or hurt, and fire officials said they didn't know how it started.

First responders were Assistant Fire Chief John Crelly, who came from a building inspection, and Fire Chief John Berg, who drove an engine from the main fire station. The department's other available fire fighters were busy on a medical call, Berg said.

Also responding were units from Columbia Heights and St. Anthony. Berg said they came under the cities' automatic aid program, which also includes the Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View department.

Two Columbia Heights fire vehicles were right behind Berg as he drove an engine north on East River Road, he said.

The fire departments automatically respond to structure fires in each other's cities between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, when staffing levels are lower because firefighters with day jobs are not available. 

Cause Unclear
How the fire started is a mystery, but Crelly said a garbage can on the east side of the garage was a possible cause.

All that was left of the garbage can was a layer of wet ashes on the driveway by the damaged corner of the garage.

Crelly and Berg said the department typically consults with property owners after an unexplained fire to help determine a cause. They left a message on the owner's phone and a fire department card at the door.

Crelly called it "an odd fire—if there was no garbage can."