Garage fire leaves home smoke damaged, unlivable

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- The Grand Island Fire Department responded to a structure fire Tuesday night. 

GIFD Battalion Chief Scott Kuehl said that they responded to a garage fire around 10:20 p.m. after the renters of the home called in the fire. 

Kuehl said that the first responding units arrived to find light smoke coming from garage doors, and once they made entry they found a small pile of clothing that was put out quickly with minimal effort. 

GIFD said that the main issue was that the occupants had left the door open between the detached garage and the house, causing damage to the living quarters and making the home unlivable due to the smoke damage. 

Kuehl said there was a great deal of smoke damage to the living quarters, but there was no structural damage. 

There was a good deal of property damage and paint damage that will take substantial clean-up. Kuehl said the estimated damages were between $8,000 and $10,000. 

The cause of the fire was improperly disposed of smoking materials. 

There were no injuries reported from the fire.

Officials said the clean-up will determine when the occupants are able to go back into the home.