Jul 11, 2016 1 min read

The state police fire marshal has ruled a fire that destroyed a vacant garage in Clarksville and injured a volunteer firefighter earlier this month as accidental.

The July 3 fire at 265 First St. in the borough was caused by an electrical malfunction, the fire marshal’s office at the Washington barracks announced Monday.

A Jefferson volunteer firefighter suffered a minor injury on the scene, Clarksville fire Chief Jamie Forman said.

Forman said his department received the call about 10:45 p.m. fire at the vacant building on the corner of First and Greene streets Clarksville.

While providing mutual aid at the scene, a female Jefferson firefighter, whom Forman declined to identify, was injured. Forman said she was holding a ladder steady when a firefighter helmet fell from another person at the top of the ladder and hit her on the helmet.

Forman said crews were on scene until 2 a.m., battling the fire that destroyed the vacant building.

“It was pretty much a total loss,” he said.

He said the owner of the building, who he declined to identify, lives across the street. The fire caused about $51,000 in damage, according to the fire marshal.