Venango Township couple loses garage to fire

Jan. 5--VENANGO TOWNSHIP -- A pre-dawn fire destroyed a three-bay residential garage west of the borough of Venango.

The garage and its contents at the home of Caleb and Ashley Cartwright, 20103 Gospel Hill Road, were a loss, according to Chief Rob Proper of Venango Volunteer Fire Department. The home is located about 11/2 miles west of the borough.

The fire was discovered about 5:15 a.m. Saturday as the Cartwrights were awakened by someone in their driveway sounding a car horn.

"They looked out and saw flames coming out of the garage," Proper said. "They lost everything in there."

There were at least two vehicles in the detached garage as well as numerous other items stored within the garage, he said, adding the Cartwrights have insurance.

Proper said a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal will investigate the cause of the blaze.

"It's not suspicious, but I can't tell if it started in one corner over another corner," Proper said. "It's due to the amount of damage."

Though some of the walls of the garage still are standing, the fire gutted the building and destroyed its roof, he said.

The garage was a separate building from the home, but vinyl siding on one side of the home did melt due to heat from the fire.

There were no injuries to the Cartwrights or to any of the firefighters on scene, the chief said.

Venango was assisted at the scene by Cambridge Springs, Saegertown, Hayfield Township, Edinboro and West Mead 2 volunteer fire departments. The last fire units returned to service just before 9 a.m.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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