A detached garage behind a Lewiston residence was heavily damaged early Monday morning after fire crews were called to battle a blaze that threatened to spread to neighboring properties and vehicles.
The Lewiston Fire Department dispatched personnel at approximately 3:08 a.m. to the alley behind a home on 14th Avenue, where firefighters arrived to find the structure engulfed in heavy flames. The fire had already begun spreading to nearby vehicles and hedges by the time crews reached the scene.
Quick Response Prevents Wider Damage
Officials credited the swift arrival of fire crews with keeping the blaze from reaching adjacent properties and the main residence. The department deployed three structural engines, three medic units, and one chief officer — a total of 15 personnel — to the early-morning call.
Mutual aid played a key role in the response. Clarkston Fire, Asotin County Fire District No. 1, and the City of Asotin all sent crews under an automatic aid agreement that coordinates emergency response across the Idaho-Washington border in the Lewis-Clark Valley.
No injuries were reported among the 15 firefighters on scene or any civilians involved. Damage to the structure and its contents has been estimated at approximately $50,000. A similar incident last year highlighted the destruction a structure fire can cause in a residential area — a shop fire on the Lewiston side left a building a total loss.
Cause Under Investigation
The origin and cause of the garage fire remain under investigation, according to fire department officials. No determination has been made public as to whether the fire was accidental or otherwise.
The 3 a.m. response is a reminder of the around-the-clock demands placed on local fire and emergency personnel. Lewiston and its surrounding communities have seen a range of infrastructure and emergency incidents in recent months, including a power outage that affected more than 1,100 customers in Lewiston earlier this spring.
What Comes Next
The Lewiston Fire Department is continuing its investigation into the cause of the blaze. Residents with information relevant to the fire are encouraged to contact local authorities. Officials have not indicated a timeline for when findings will be released. Property owners in the area affected by damage to vehicles and hedges may be working with insurance providers as the investigation proceeds.