VASSALBORO — Damage from a Friday night fire was limited to a two-car garage attached to a Katie Drive home.

Damage is seen from a Friday night fire inside an attached garage at 61 Katie Drive in Vassalboro. Vassalboro Fire Department

Improperly disposed woodstove ashes were discovered in a garage attached to 61 Katie Drive after smoke detectors in the garage went off and a neighbor intervened to help the home’s occupant to safety.

The home is still habitable and there were no injuries in the fire, according to Vassalboro Fire Department Chief Walker Thompson. Firefighters limited the fire’s damage to the attached two-car garage and unoccupied living space above it.

The fire was reported at 8:11 p.m. Friday and had firefighters at the scene until around 10:30 p.m., ensuring the fire was fully extinguished  Thompson said heavy fire was on both sides of the northern wall of the garage when firefighters arrived, and the flames were under control in about 15 minutes.

The home’s lone occupant was alerted by smoke detectors in the garage, which were connected to the home’s alarm system.

Thompson did not have the name of woman who lives in the home on Saturday, but said she heard the smoke detectors going off but did not see the fire in the garage. She called a neighbor for help in determining why the smoke alarm system was going off. The neighbor spotted the fire and came to assist getting the occupant out of the home.

“Thankfully, the smoke detectors were linked together in the house and garage and went off and alerted her,” Thompson said. “She called the neighbor, who assisted her in getting out, as she was unaware what was going on in the garage.”

Smoke is seen Friday night coming out of the second-floor window of a garage at 61 Katie Drive in Vassalboro. Vassalboro Fire Department

According to Thompson, the fire started with woodstove ashes disposed of improperly inside the garage, which caught the garage on fire. The fire spread to the garage’s second floor, which was unoccupied living space, and attic. The flames were extinguished before the fire spread to the attached house.

Thompson said the garage is salvageable but will need repairs. Smoke, fire and water damage was limited to the garage. The property is insured.

“We were able to save the house, firefighters did a great job at stopping the fire where it was, everybody did an awesome job,” said Thompson.

Firefighters from Winslow and Waterville were called to assist at the scene. Central Maine Power Co. and Delta Ambulance also assisted.