New York Mills Garage Fire Damages Attached Home, All Residents Escape Safely

A garage fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday, March 12 at 106 N Walker Ave. in New York Mills, destroying the attached garage and heavily damaging the home before crews from two fire departments brought the blaze under control. All residents escaped without injury.

Dispatchers received the call at 4:29 a.m. The fire started in the attached garage and spread into the house before firefighters arrived. The garage was a total loss, and the home suffered significant damage, according to a news release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office.

Crews from the New York Mills and Perham fire departments responded and extinguished the blaze. Residents of the house were able to evacuate with no injuries, the Sheriff's Office confirmed.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. Authorities say it is not believed to be suspicious, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating alongside the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office.

The New York Mills fire is one of two structure fires in Otter Tail County that broke out within roughly 12 hours of each other. The day before, on Wednesday, March 11, a fire was reported around 2:44 p.m. at a residence on County Highway 50 in rural Deer Creek. Crews from the Deer Creek and Henning fire departments contained that blaze to an upstairs bedroom, with minor smoke damage elsewhere in the home and no injuries reported. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is also investigating that fire.

No cause determination has been released for either incident.