Firefighters found heavy smoke and fire coming from a nine-stall garage.
St. Paul firefighters battled the cold weather and a quick-moving fire in a multi-car garage on Hoyt Avenue on Monday night.
Just after 10:00 p.m., units were dispatched for a fire in an attached garage. Minutes later, Engine 17 arrived to find heavy smoke and fire showing from from a nine-car garage at an apartment complex.
The crews from Engine 17 and Squad 1 stretched hand lines to the burning stall in the center, and to other areas where fire was showing. The fire had spread into the cock loft and crews were looking for extension.
Crews used rotary saws to open several of the overhead doors to check for extension.
According to St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard, the fire started in a vehicle that had been jump-started 20 minutes before the fire was discovered. The owner said he left the vehicle running in the garage and when he heard an explosion, he spotted the fire.
The fire, which was contained by 35 firefighters, gutted the one vehicle and caused smoke damage to the other units. Early estimates place the damage at $60,000.
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