Garage gutted by fire

A barn-shaped garage (above and below) was gutted by a fire that occurred about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 127, near the intersection with Cooper Road. Firefighters from the Ohio City Fire Department battled the blaze, with assistance from a tanker and personnel from Van Wert Fire Department. At right, an Ohio City firefighter takes a breather from the heat of the blaze. Traffic control was handled by units of the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department and the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. No other information has been released on the cause of the fire. (photos by Tracy Sterling for the Van Wert independent)