Garage fire started at electric outlet

Thursday, September 22, 2016

McCOOK, Neb. -- Firefighters blame an electrical outlet and a gas can for the fire that burned a garage at 505 W. Second at 1:31 a.m. today.

Firefighters reported heavy smoke from the detached, single stall garage upon their arrival. They knocked out a window to extinguish the fire and then raised the drive-through door to finish putting out the fire.

Fire officials' investigation indicates that the fire started with a wall-mount electrical outlet into which a small battery tender for a Harley Davidson motorcycle parked inside the garage was plugged. The fire spread when a plastic gas can sitting on a shelf over the electrical outlet melted and gas leaked from the gas can. Firefighters removed the gas can from the garage to prevent possible re-ignition.

The garage is owned by Mahlon and Ragan Lofton. Ragan said that she awoke to the smell of smoke, noticed smoke in the backyard, got her children and pets out of the house and called 911. No one was injured.

Initial damage estimates are $44,000 to the structure and contents, including the 2013 Harley motorcycle.

Thirteen firefighters, two pumper trucks, one ladder truck, one ambulance and one command vehicle were on scene for about 11⁄2 hours.

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