The Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a garage fire, at 3470 Sherman Road in Polk, on March 25 around 1:41 p.m.
Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and the Jackson Fire Department responded to the scene. The homeowner evacuated two pigs safely from the garage and moved a vehicle safely away from the burning structure. There was another vehicle that was parked near the garage that was unable to be moved.
The garage is 20 feet from a house. The fire spread to the north side of the home, causing damage to several windows, the wood siding and the roof. The fire also spread to a pick-up truck that was parked in the driveway. The pick-up truck was damaged.
Fire personnel extinguished the fire. The garage and contents inside were a total loss. Damage to the garage and contents were estimated at $63,000. The damage to the residence was estimated at $30,000.
The homeowner was cooking hamburgers on a gas grill inside the garage prior to the fire. The grill was left operating and unattended. The homeowner observed leaves on fire near the gas grill, and the fire quickly spread in the garage. The cause of fire appears to be accidental.
Area fire departments from Jackson, Slinger, Richfield, Germantown, and West Bend responded.