Firefighters were called to a residence on Berczy Street Thursday night for a garage fire that caused thousands of dollars in damage.
Barrie Fire was dispatched to the home between Queen and Wellington streets at approximately 8:30 p.m. for a fire that began in the garage. The cause of the fire was deemed "undetermined" and the loss due to damage is estimated at $15,000. The garage was a separate building so no one was displaced.
Barrie Fire’s information officer Samantha Hoffmann told BarrieToday that garage fires tend to spread farther and cause more injuries and dollar loss than fires that start in other areas of the home.
She suggests homeowners take precautions since garage fires can go undetected for a long period of time.
“With this snow and cold weather, people tend to smoke in their garage and it is important that all cigarettes or smoking materials are fully extinguished. We recommend sand or water to do this,” said Hoffmann.
“Oil, gas, paint, propane and varnishes should be kept to a minimum and, ideally, stored in a shed away from the home," she advised.
“Any type of appliances, if used in a garage, should be plugged directly into an outlet and not in an extension cord. Extension cords are temporary wiring only," she added.
