OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Fredonia Fire Department firefighters look over the aftermath of a fire on Westerly Drive Monday morning.

The Fredonia Fire Department didn’t have far to go when it got a call for help at 11:27 a.m. Monday.

A fire charred the exterior of a home’s garage on Westerly Drive, and the firefighters made a very quick stop — in part because they were already nearby at Wheelock Elementary School, talking about fire prevention with the kids.

“We were very close. It was an exterior fire on the house, unknown cause right now,” Fredonia Fire Chief Joshua Myers said at the scene. “With the quick reaction of the fire department, we were able to contain it to the outside, with minimal damage to the structure. I call it a success.”

There were no injuries, Myers added.

“The homeowner was home so they were able to alert us rather quickly,” he said.

Firefighters were already located a few hundred yards away, offering a presentation to Fredonia schoolchildren in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week.

“They were actually still doing it when this call came out. They had to tell the kids ‘See you later,’ they left and came here,” Myers said.