Space heater causes Saturday morning fire on Guard Hill Road

A Guard Hill Road garage was destroyed by fire Saturday morning. (Photo courtesy of WCFR.)

FRONT ROYAL — An early Saturday morning fire in Warren County on Guard Hill Road destroyed a detached garage, a mobile camper and two passenger vehicles, according to officials with Warren County Fire and Rescue Services.

Firefighters responded to the 3900 block of Guard Hill Road shortly after 5 a.m. Arriving on the scene, they found a large detached garage structure, a mobile camper and several vehicles on fire, and posing a threat multiple outbuildings that were in near proximity.

It took firefighters 40 minutes to bring the blaze under control, according to the statement.

According to the Warren County fire marshal’s office, the fire apparently originated in the mobile camper, which was being used as temporary housing, and was parked next to the garage structure.

The fire quickly spread to the structure, which contained two passenger vehicles. According to the fire marshal, the camper, structure and vehicles were declared a total loss. The cause of the fire was determined to be a portable space heater that had been placed too close to combustible materials.

Firefighters from multiple companies tried to save a garage and several vehicles Saturday morning. (Photo courtesy of WCFR.)

The occupant of the camper and his pet escaped unharmed prior to the arrival of the firefighters; there were no injuries.

There were no working smoke alarms in the camper at the time of the fire, according to the fire marshal.

Stations 1,4,5 ,8 and 10 responded to the call with Station 6 and Middletown 12 providing station coverage.