Fire displaces resident of home

OLD FORT — A fire destroyed a Liberty Township garage and spread to the attached house Tuesday evening. The fire at 1391 CR 30 was reported by neighbors at 6:30 p.m. Personnel from Bettsville Volunteer Fire Department, Bettsville EMS, Old Fort Volunteer Fire Department, Tiffin Fire Rescue Division and the county's Echo unit responded to the fire. Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department and Green Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Department were on standby, according to Seneca County Sheriff's Office. The house is owned by Gary Williams, according to the Seneca County Auditor's Office website. Jeff Smith, assistant chief of Old Fort Volunteer Fire Department, said a man lives in the house and was not home when the fire started. He was going to stay with a neighbor, Smith said. Smith said the fire started on the wall between the attached garage and two-story house. "Undetermined on the cause right now," he said at the scene. Smith estimated firefighters had the fire knocked down in 20-25 minutes and extinguished within 45 minutes. Smith said they had to pull down the upstairs ceiling. There was smoke and water damage throughout the house, and the garage, which contained tools, lawnmowers and a gas can, was destroyed, he said. He estimated damage at $75,000 and said he thought the house could be repaired. No one was hurt in the fire, and a dog that had been outside survived. As crews worked at the scene of the house fire, Kansas Volunteer Fire Department and Bascom EMS responded to a combine fire at 5081 W. TR 36, according to the sheriff's office. It was reported about 8 p.m., and Bascom Joint Fire District was on standby at its station.