Fire destroys Springfield garage; house saved

A fast-moving fire destroyed a freestanding two-bay garage on 432 South St. on Saturday afternoon.   

Photos http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20151004/THISJUSTIN/710049917

Fire destroys Springfield garage; house saved By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer | October 04,2015 Email Article Print Article SPRINGFIELD — A fast-moving fire destroyed a freestanding two-bay garage on 432 South St. on Saturday afternoon. Fire Chief Russell Thompson said no one was injured, and added it was too soon to determine what caused the fire at the home of Robert and Kathleen Richard. Thompson said he called for water tankers from other fire departments because the garage was located very close to the Richards’ home and the address was just outside Springfield’s hydrant system. “We foamed the exposed side of the house,” he said as he directed firefighters to move metal debris from the collapsed garage so they could get at the remaining hot spots. The fire, which broke out at about 2:45 p.m., sent up clouds of smoke that were visible from downtown Springfield. The Richards’ daughter, Jennifer Considine of Springfield, said she received a “frantic” phone call from her parents, and she got to their home as quickly as possible. Considine said her father’s two-bay garage had a lift, and contained two vehicles which were burned in the fire. Her parents were home at the time the fire broke out, she said.