Fire damages garage on Montgomery Street, causes detour

(Photos by Paul Scott and numerous decorahnews.com readers--thanks!)

Decorah firefighters were called to 703 Montgomery Street just before 5:00 Wednesday evening.

It was reported smoke was coming from a garage and initial reports were someone could possibly be in the building. 

Firefighters found smoke coming from a large two-stall garage.  It was determined no one was inside the structure.  Firefighters went inside the garage, but conditions inside the structure deteriorated rapidly, forcing firefighters outside.  Fire then vented through the roof and northeast wall.  The fire was brought under control, including extinguishing existing hotspots. 

Traffic on Montgomery Street--a major route in Decorah--was detoured around the fire scene.  The building was extensively damaged on the north side.  Some personal contents in the garage were recovered by firefighters and turned over to the resident. 

One firefighter sustained minor burns and was treated and released at Winneshiek Medical Center.  No other injuries were reported. 

The damage amount has not been determined at this time. 

The cause of the fire appears to have started in the area of a wood burning stove located inside the garage.

The Decorah Fire Department was assisted by the Decorah Police Department, Winneshiek Medical Center Ambulance, Decorah/Winneshiek County Dispatch Center, Alliant Energy, Black Hills Energy and the Decorah Street Department.

(Click on photos for larger images)