Crime & Safety

Lighting The Presumed Cause Of Wilmington Garage Fire: WFD Chief

The fire occurred Thursday in the 400 block of Woburn Street. Departments from North Reading and Reading assisted the WFD at the scene.

The Wilmington Fire Department responded to a garage fire Thursday in the 400 block of Woburn Street. WPD Fire Chief William Cavanaugh said lightning is the presumed cause of the fire, though the blaze remains under investigation.
The Wilmington Fire Department responded to a garage fire Thursday in the 400 block of Woburn Street. WPD Fire Chief William Cavanaugh said lightning is the presumed cause of the fire, though the blaze remains under investigation. (Chris Huffaker/Patch)

Wilmington, MA —Wilmington Fire Department Chief William Cavanaugh said lightning is the presumed cause of a Thursday morning fire that broke out in a detached garage in town, though the blaze remains under investigation.

The fire was reported around 10:15 a.m. in a garage located in the 400 block of Woburn Street, the WFD said. No injuries were reported, according to WHDH.

The station reported that when firefighters arrived at the scene they found heavy fire and smoke inside the two-car garage.

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"Crews made a quick knockdown of the exterior, visible fire. There was an extensive amount of overhaul to ensure that all the fire was out," Cavanaugh told Patch.

The chief said Wilmington Group 1 was assisted at the scene by firefighters from North Reading and Reading, while the Woburn Fire Department and Tewksbury Fire Department covered the Wilmington Fire Station in case of another emergency.

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According to WHDH, the homeowners reported hearing thunder and seeing lighting before smelling smoke.


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