{gallery}11_13_08/garagefire{/gallery} Fire engulfs a garage early Wednesday morning in the alley behind Steve and Megan Nickles' home at 349 N. Douglas St. The garage was fully engulfed before firefighters arrived, and the cause of the fire has not been determined. Photo courtesy Megan Nickles 2,000 homes without power following fire Early Wednesday morning, Powell Volunteer Fire Department firefighters responded to a blazing garage in the alley behind Steve and Megan Nickles' home at 349 N. Douglas St.The garage was fully engulfed before firefighters arrived, said Powell Fire Chief Joey Darrah.

Due to the fire, many residents lost electrical power.

Nickles said the 1,300-square-foot garage contained a vehicle and tools.

An electrical power line near the garage was burned through and lying in the alley.

Larry Carter, electrical superintendent for the city of Powell, said the fire knocked out overhead lines, then Powell linemen closed the circuit for the firefighters' safety.

Beginning around 5 a.m., about 2,000 homes were without power for an hour, and about 40 homes had no power for three to four hours while line crews made necessary repairs.

Darrah said the garage was new, and no sheet rock had been attached to its interior walls, so it was easy for flames to burn the studs supporting the structure.

Because the entire building was quickly consumed, with the exception of the steel siding, Darrah said it will be difficult to determine what caused the fire.