Fire causes $100,000 in damage to Austin garage
May 6—AUSTIN — A fire that broke out in an Austin garage caused $100,000 worth of damage early Thursday.
Deputies with the Mower County Sheriff's Office, Brownsdale and Austin fire departments, and Mayo Clinic Ambulance were called around 3:20 a.m. to the 58000 block of 220th Street in Austin for a report of a garage fully engulfed in fire, according to Mower County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mark May.
When crews arrived, they found the owner, identified as Alfred Hemann, and a neighbor attempting to retrieve items from the burning garage. Surrounding neighbors were evacuated from their homes for safety reasons due to the proximity of the fire.
Hemann is said to have continued to attempt to remove property from the garage until it became unsafe to do so. He told emergency responders that he had a heat lamp installed to keep baby ducks and other fowl warm. Law enforcement did not release any further details about the animals that may have been in the garage.
The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage and lost items. The State Fire Marshal will be contacted.
