Cause of Chambersburg garage fire believed to be electrical; $250,000 in damages

A garage fire earlier this week in downtown Chambersburg that damaged nine vehicles and caused $250,000 in damages appears to have been caused by an electrical malfunction, the borough fire chief said in a news release. 

The Chambersburg Fire Department just after noon Tuesday was sent to the rear of the 200 block of North Main Street for the fire, Chief Dustin Ulrich said in the release. Firefighters found a one-story 20-by-20 garage fully on fire, and saw other buildings and objects were in danger.

While crews were setting up hoses and equipment, the building's roof and an exterior wall collapsed, the release states. 

While crews were able to contain the fire within about 15 minutes of getting behind 242 N. Main St., Ulrich said that they had to douse nine vehicles that had caught fire due to radiant heat from the garage. 

An initial investigation into the cause of the fire appears to be electrical in nature, according to the news release. 

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Preliminary damages were estimated at $250,000. No injuries were reported. The more than 25 firefighters who responded had cleared the scene by 1:30 p.m.

Chambersburg Fire Department was assisted on scene by Franklin Fire Co., Letterkenny Army Depot Fire Department, Marion Fire and EMS, West End Fire and Rescue, Penn State EMS, and Shippensburg Fire Department's air unit.

In addition to the fire companies, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s office assisted with the fire investigation as well as Chambersburg's electric department.