COLUMBIA — A garage fire that occurred Saturday afternoon caused an estimated $100,000 in damage.
Firefighters arrived at 1702 Woodmoor Court in the Valley West subdivision at 3:45 p.m. Rita Stone, 62, was at home in another area of the house when she heard the smoke alarm sound, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release.
When Stone went to investigate the cause, she noticed smoke in her garage area near a freezer. Neighbors also saw the smoke and came to assist Stone in trying to extinguish the fire with a garden hose. One neighbor called the Fire Department.
Fire investigators have determined that the fire began in the garage in the area surrounding the freezer. But they have not yet determined exactly what caused the fire.
Heavy smoke could be seen from Stadium Boulevard and Interstate 70, about half a mile away from the scene.