Fire damages garage in Dover

Firefighters are investigating to determine the cause of a fire that damaged a garage at 1420 N. Cross St., Dover. No one was injured.

Further investigation Friday did not determine the cause, and investigation continues. A preliminary damage estimate is at least $50,000, firefighters said.

A total of 25 firefighters from Dover, New Philadelphia and Bolivar responded to the scene after several people, including a resident of the home, called 911 at about 5:42 p.m. Thursday. A Smith Ambulance crew responded, and Dover police kept traffic away from the area.

A woman and child were home at the time in the rental property owned by M&P Realty. Her husband Mike Blumenauer arrived home from work shortly after the fire was reported, according to Dover Fire Capt. Mike Mossor.

The fire started in the three-stall garage and “was very well involved when we arrived,” he said. “There was a lot of fire and smoke. Some of the smoke went into the house, but not the fire so it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. We extinguished it pretty quickly, it was out within three to five minutes.”

He said the fire started in the garage, and isn’t suspicious.

“We’ll be doing more investigation, to determine the cause,” he said. “Everything in the garage was destroyed. There weren’t any vehicles inside, just a lot of personal belongings, including golf clubs and fishing gear.”

Firefighters were on scene for about three hours.