Fire destroys home in Westbrook

*This story was featured in the Hastings Tribune on July 11, 2016. 

Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire Monday afternoon that destroyed a home in the Westbrook subdivision on the west side of Hastings.

At 4:19 p.m., firefighters from the Hastings city and rural fire departments and Juniata Fire Department were called to 1411 Hillcrest Drive after flames were seen coming from a garage, which was attached to the home owned by Jeffrey and Candice Consbruck.

No one was home at the time of the fire and it is believed that the fire was first reported by a neighbor, according to Hastings Fire Chief Kent Gilbert.

He said the home is a “total loss.”

After arriving at the scene, Gilbert said firefighters were able to get the fire under control in about five minutes.

The siding of a neighboring home was damaged because of the radiant heat and large flames from the garage fire, Gilbert said.

Firefighters returned to the home Tuesday morning after the fire rekindled, which Gilbert said is a normal occurrence. He said it likely was caused by hidden embers and a change of wind direction.

Hastings Fire and Rescue also extinguished a fire Monday morning that damaged an unoccupied house at 701 Sewell Ave. Gilbert said firefighters returned to that location multiple times because of rekindling.