Multiple area departments battled a blaze that began late Wednesday morning inside a detached garage in the 200 block of Richard Avenue in Dupo and spread to the residence.

Initial dispatch communication indicated the structure was possibly occupied when the fire was called in shortly after 11 a.m. The Dupo Fire Department received mutual aid from Columbia and Prairie du Pont firefighters at this time.

The Waterloo Fire Department was paged to provide additional assistance at about 11:50 a.m., with the Columbia Fire Department asked for more manpower and Millstadt firefighters requested once the fire had spread to the home. The Hecker Fire Department was requested to stand by at the CFD headquarters just after noon.

Dupo Fire Chief Kelly Schaffer said the blaze originated in the detached garage, with an exact cause being unknown. The garage was largely destroyed upon firefighter arrival, the chief said, with neighbors seemingly hearing a “boom” shortly before his department was paged.

He added the garage contained a standard assortment of lawn care equipment as well as some automotive maintenance items.

Schaffer said extensive fire damage was also sustained to the second floor and roof of the nearby residence.

Two firefighters were injured in the incident – one from Dupo and the other from Columbia.

Schaffer said one fireman was injured early on in the response as he went down to the basement to isolate the electrical service, slipping on stairs and suffering a minor leg injury.

Another firefighter suffered from heat exhaustion during the incident, receiving attention for low blood pressure and to administer fluids.

Schaffer reported that both firefighters are now both doing well.