(La Porte County, IN) - Careless smoking might be the cause of a garage fire near Michigan City.

 

Firefighters from Coolspring and Springfield townships responded Tuesday night to the 3500 block of W. 625 North.

 

According to La Porte County Police, a woman getting ready for bed went to her attached garage to make sure the door was locked when she discovered a trash can inside the structure on fire.  She yelled for her husband to wake up and called 911,

 

Police said one of the firefighters backed a car covered in soot with a passenger side mirror looking melted out of the garage.  The garage was damaged but to what extent was not revealed.

 

Police said It appears the garbage can caught fire from an ashtray being emptied into the container.