LOGAN SQUARE — As Frank Velez pulled into a Logan Square garage Monday afternoon, his truck struck a can of gasoline sitting nearby — causing a fire that destroyed everything inside, including two of his brother's wheelchairs.
Around 3 p.m., Velez was visiting his brother, who lives in the basement, when he accidentally hit the gas can and the fire erupted, he said.
The garage is in an alley behind a home in the 2100 block of North Whipple Street that has belonged to Velez's family for more than 40 years. Velez, who is retired, lives about 15 minutes away.
The truck Velez was driving caught fire, as did two of Velez's brother's wheelchairs and various personal items in the garage. Velez was not injured.
"It's a total loss," Velez said of the damage, adding that insurance would likely cover the garage itself, but not the personal items inside.
Neither the Chicago Fire Department nor the Chicago Police Department could provide any information on the fire.
Last month, at least two garage fires broke out in Logan Square. The causes of those fires are unknown.
