An unattached garage containing a boat, car and lawn equipment were destroyed by fire Tuesday night at a home southeast of Brainerd.
The Brainerd Fire Department was called at 7:12 p.m. to the home of Lindsey Raddatz, 19310 Crow Wing County Road 132, about 15 miles southeast of Brainerd.
Brainerd Fire Chief Kevin Stunek said the homeowners were in their home when they saw flames coming out of the windows of the garage. When firefighters arrived on scene, the garage was fully engulfed.
Stunek said the cause of the fire appears to be from a cooker that was smoking venison. The garage and its contents were a total loss. Estimated damage is between $35,000 to $40,000.
Nearly 25 firefighters - both full-time equipment operators and paid-on-call firefighters - and three tankers responded to the fire. Brainerd called Garrison and Nisswa fire departments for mutual aid. Garrison provided water on scene and Nisswa manned the Brainerd Fire Hall.
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The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office assisted on scene.
Firefighters had to guide multiple farm cats wandering around the scene away from the fire. Firefighters had the fire contained at 7:54 p.m; they cleared at 9:03 p.m.
It took firefighters 24 minutes to get on scene as the fire was about 15 miles away.
Capt. Mark Turner said there was one full-time equipment operator on duty when the call came out because the fire station is short staffed. Turner said the full-time equipment operator had to wait for crews - the full-time and paid-on-call firefighters - to arrive before leaving the fire station for safety purposes.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl .
