Fire devastates garage at residence on U.S. Highway 2

Firefighters responded to a report of a garage fire at a residence on the 8600 Block of U.S. Highway 2 West, past Beaver Creek Golf Course, at 10:56 a.m. Wednesday.

Havre Fire Department issued an all-department page, with all available personnel, 15 total, responding to the call along with one fire truck and two tender vehicles to supply water.

No vehicles were inside of the garage, although items were in it at the time of the fire.

Fire Chief Mel Paulson said that the damage within the garage was extensive and the firefighters were unable to save the structure. No one was hurt in the fire, he said, and the department was able to contain the damage to the garage.

He added that the department was able to gain control of the fire within the first 10 minutes.

Assistant Fire Chief Kelly Jones said this morning that crews were on hand for about three-and-a-half hours making sure the fire was completely out.

The garage and its contents were a total loss, Jones said, and items in an attached shed were smoke damaged.

A wood-burning stove was determined to be the cause of the fire, he added.

Pam Burke contributed to this story.