Fire Destroys Garage and Shop Near Montrose

Fire destroyed a garage and shop on property just north and east of Montrose Monday.

Montrose firefighters were called to a building owned by Reggie Flach about 11:30am after a neighbor spotted smoke and phoned 911. No one was home at the time the fire was spotted.

Montrose Fire Chief Chris Overbeck said the fire was already through the roof of the building when he reached the scene. The building is located in a rural area along a dead-end road. 

Overbeck said animals housed in a lean-to off the building got out safely, and firefighters got a tractor out, but the fire claimed a pickup truck, a four-wheeler and a lawn mower, plus all of Flach's tools located in the shop.

Teutopolis firefighters assisted at the scene and Dieterich firefighters supplied a tanker truck.

A State Fire Marshal's Office representative inspected the scene Monday afternoon and believed the fire might have been electrical in origin, but said the damage was too heavy to make a complete determination.