Outbuilding destroyed, another damaged in Modesto fire

One building – a detached garage or storage space – burned and another outbuilding was damaged off an alley between Pine and Spruce streets just west of South Washington Street near downtown Friday morning.

The call came in at 7:53 a.m. and crews arrived to find the garage building heavily involved, Modesto Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon said at the scene. Nearby residents who’d not already left their homes were evacuated.

The fire threatened power lines in the alley, so a Modesto Irrigation District crew ensured the lines were secured.

No one was injured in the fire and no one is believed to have been in either structure when the blaze started, Slamon said. The garage was a total loss and the second building – possibly a small residence – suffered serious damage to its exterior and interior, he said.

Additionally, an adjacent apartment building on the Washington Street side suffered some heat damage, the chief said.

Firefighters had the blaze out within 20 minutes.

This story was originally published May 29, 2015 at 9:32 AM with the headline "Outbuilding destroyed, another damaged in Modesto fire."