An unattended open burn led to a fire in a detached garage that caused damage to a nearby duplex near the line of Lebanon and Whitestown Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

At approximately 4:57 p.m. yesterday, April 1, Lebanon Fire companies were reportedly dispatched with Whitestown Fire Department and Center Township Fire Department to 3675 Diane Ln. in Lebanon on report of a structure fire.<\/p>\n

Law enforcement arrived on scene and confirmed a working garage fire and advised the fire was spreading into a nearby duplex, authorities report. Whitestown Fire Department crews were the first on scene and began offensive fire operations, and crews attempted to make entry into the duplex to search the building and advised a hole in the floor and poor structural conditions, firefighters report.<\/p>\n

Command reportedly confirmed with the building owner that the structure was unoccupied, and crews transitioned to defensive operations, bringing the garage fire under control and keeping the fire from spreading beyond the soffit and small portions of the attic and living area nearest the garage.<\/p>\n

The fire was marked under control at 5:43 p.m. Crews remained on site to complete overhaul of the structures and ensure no hot spots remained.<\/p>\n

Lebanon Fire Department investigators were on scene and conducted an origin and cause investigation at the time of the incident. Due to initial observations and statements gathered from personnel on scene, the cause was reportedly determined to be accidental due to an unattended open burn that spread to the garage. The investigation has been closed at this time.<\/p>\n

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