A home was spared damage from a garage fire thanks to quick reaction by neighbors Wednesday.
Neighbors of a house near 129 Panoramic View Drive West noticed smoke coming from a free-standing garage during the noon hour yesterday.
Volunteers from the Debusk, Orebank, Mosheim, and Town of Mosheim Volunteer Fire Departments, Debusk Rehab Unit responded and found a garage fully involved. Cecil Ellenburg, the neighbor, kept a water hose on the house, which was just about 10′ away from the burning structure. Firefighters say his actions likely kept the fire from spreading to the home itself.
Property owner Debra Lambrecht told investigators she was walking her dogs in the woods behind her residence when her neighbor called her stating smoke was coming from her garage. She then called 9-1-1 and reported shortly afterwards flames were visible from the structure and by the time the fire department responded the garage was engulfed.
The woman stated she hadn’t been in the garage in several days but that her brother-in-law and others had been working there this week. A wood stove was located in the back of the garage. After arriving at the scene, the man confirmed he had not been burning Wednesday but that he did clean the ashes from a previous fire into a trashcan inside the garage.
The structure and contents, which were stated to be various tools, were a total loss. A small, enclosed trailer near the structure also sustained fire damage. There was only minor damage to the house.
Also responding were EMS, the Greeneville Energy Authority, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
