Garage of Vacant Property in Mount Pleasant Burns to the Ground

An overnight fire in Mount Pleasant that burned down the garage of a foreclosed property on July 26 is under investigation.

Mount Pleasant Police and the South Shore Fire Department, with assistance from the Racine Fire Department, responded to a call of a fire at about 1 am. When they arrived, the garage at 2201 Howe Street was fully engulfed in flames.

The home on the property was not on fire, but police report the home and garage have been vacant for a year because of foreclosure. 375 Park Holdings, LLC, is listed as the owner-of-record on tax rolls.

"It's been empty for a while," said Ann McGee, who lives on Sander Court. Her backyard backs up to the alley that runs behind where the fire occured. "But this is the second garage fire in a couple of months. I wonder if it's kids playing games."

Police evacuated the residents in the neighboring property at 2207 Howe for safety. The garage at that property was damaged slightly from the fire next door, but South Shore fire fighters took preventative measures to avoid further damage.

According to a statement issued by the Mount Pleasant police department, WE Energies also responded to the emergency because a utility pole caught fire and power to the property had to be cut.

According to McGee, she was also asked to evacuate her home because of the danger to power lines.

"The lines were on fire," she said. "But they got it put out right away so that was good."

The fire is under investigation.