Fire destroys garage, car on West Cavour

By Susan Larson | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, March 13, 2008

Firefighters were at 654 West Cavour until around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, putting out a fire believed to have been started by a spark on cardboard. The Fergus Falls Fire Department was called out shortly before noon to the duplex owned by Lester Kipputh. Although the home was not destroyed, it sustained water and moderate smoke damage throughout.

“There was heavy damage to the garage and a car was destroyed,” Fire Chief Mark Hovland said. “We had to tear into the south wall, outside and in, and tear up flooring and ceiling between the main and upper floor.”

Kipputh, his daughter and her husband, Carla and Kevin Zick, and the Zick’s two children reside at the home. No one was injured. Three people and three dogs were in the house at the time.

“We’re just really shook up right now,” Carla said, decline to comment further.

The fire started in an attached garage under the house, according to Hovland.

“The homeowner poured wood chips from a cardboard box into a small grill outside on the patio,” he said.

Unbeknownst to the owner, a spark from the chips flew into the cardboard box. The box was folded up and placed in the garage with other recyclables, where it smoldered. The fire then spread into the house, setting off the smoke alarms. The owner was outside at the time and was alerted by the alarms, Hovland said.

“The fire made its way up to the second floor of the home,” Hovland said. “It started in the garage and made its way through a heating duct up to the first floor. Then it made its way to the second floor and we had to tear into the flooring.”

The fire was contained around 12:15 p.m. The Elizabeth Fire Department was called in about that time to relieve Fergus Falls firefighters and also to be on call in case another call came in, Hovland said.