Fire damages garage being converted to dance studio

Columbus firefighters said a detached garage in the 1300 block of Pearl Street that was being renovated into a dance studio was extensively damaged in a fire early Friday morning.

Firefighters were sent to 1303 Pearl St. at 6:31 a.m. Friday after a resident there saw the fire in the building after hearing a loud “boom.”

Flames were through the roof of the structure when firefighters arrived in about four minutes and had the fire under control by 6:48 a.m., said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.

Courtney James, who is a tenant at the property, told firefighters she had been remodeling the detached garage into a music and dance studio and had been working there until about 9 p.m. Thursday night.

James told firefighters all utilities and appliances were off when she left the building, Wilson said. The fire is believed to have originated in an area that was being used as storage, Wilson said.

Some of James’ musical equipment was destroyed in the fire as well as an original booth seat that came from Lucas Brothers Sandwich Shop, Wilson said. Also destroyed were several wall mirrors that were to be used for the dance studio.

The intense heat from the fire melted vinyl siding at a nearby residence at 722 13th St., across the alley. A wooden privacy fence at 1311 Pearl St. was also damaged. No injuries were reported and the cause is undetermined, Wilson said.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.