Thick black smoke billowed over Oakdale’s early evening sky Thursday, as a one car garage went up in flames in the backyard of a home in the 300 block of South Third Avenue.

The fire erupted about 6:45 p.m. and the street quickly filled up with spectators watching as flames from the small outbuilding sent smoke curling up into the sky. Fire crews arrived on scene and a few people were escorted out of the home in front of the garage by police, with one man also going back in to retrieve a dog before officers hustled everyone across the street.

Firefighters were able to knock the flames down relatively quickly and keep the fire from spreading to nearby homes and businesses. Look for the story in the Wednesday, Aug. 26 issue of The Oakdale Leader.