A fire erupted in a garage in the 800 block of N 43rd Avenue W in Duluth last afternoon, calling for a rapid response from the local fire department. According to a release from the City of Duluth, firefighters were dispatched at 3:59 PM on Wednesday, managing to quickly suppress the fire that had taken hold of a two-and-a-half-stall detached garage. The fire was brought under initial control by 2 Engines, the first to arrive on the scene.
The interior of the garage was fully drywalled, a factor that seemed to have played a role in containing the damage and preventing further spread of the blaze, as ½” drywall carries a fire rating of 30 minutes, and 5/8” drywall holds a one-hour fire rating, crews from Lincoln Park, Spirit Valley, and Headquarters also responded to the incident. In estimates reported by the fire department, the structure sustained damages pegged at $5,000, while contents within suffered a greater hit, estimated at $10,000 worth of damage.
Officials have reported no injuries from the incident, and as the Duluth Fire Marshal's office is taking the lead in investigating the fire's origin. The Duluth Fire Department expressed gratitude for the support from the Duluth Police Department and St. Louis County 911 dispatch, which assisted during the crisis.
