Crime & Safety

Early Morning Fire Destroys 3-Bay Garage in South Middletown

There were no injuries in the two-alarm blaze that required mutual aid from Middletown, Durham, Middlefield and a tanker truck from Portland Fire and two hours to knock down.

A two-alarm garage fire this morning consumed a large three-bay garage at a small home on Maple Shade Road in South Middletown. 

No injuries were reported from the blaze that touched off just after 8 a.m. at a three-bay garage about 100 feet behind 595 Maple Shade Road, according to South Fire District Capt. Mike Howley. It took about two hours for firefighters to knock down the flames.

"Water was the biggest issue because there's no hydrant out there," Howley said. Crews from Middletown, Durham, Middlefield and a tanker truck from Portland Fire were called in to assist as the fire quickly spread throughout the structure.

The home was slightly damaged by the heat of the blaze, Howley said, which melted some of the vinyl siding at the rear of the structure.

The 978-square-foot home, built in 1961 and siting on half an acre of land, was recently sold to Laurence Winkler, according to property records. Zillow lists the home as having a "huge detached garage with an office, bath" and nearly 200 square feet of space.

The city and state fire marshal will be on scene throughout the day investigating the cause of the blaze.


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