PAWNEE ROCK – A garage in Pawnee Rock was destroyed and the neighboring house damaged in a Tuesday morning blaze in this western Barton County Community.

According to a news release from the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call came into Barton County Communications about a structure fire in the 500 block of Flora Street at about 10:50 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they discovered a two-car detached garage completely engulfed in flames.

Fire departments from Albert and Great Bend put out the fire, but the garage was a total loss and the home was damaged. Witnesses reported seeing smoke from many miles away.

An investigator from the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office was called to the scene, the release said. In the preliminary investigation, it was determined that one of the occupants of the home was burning some material inside the garage earlier in the morning. The resident believed all the material to be extinguished before the resident left the building.

Electrical problems within the home were also noted by the home’s owner within the last week.

No evidence of a set fire was discovered, the release said. However, the investigation is continuing.