Coastside Fire responded to a report of smoke and flames shortly before noon today when a fire of undetermined origin started in the garage behind 138 Madrid Ave. in El Granada.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and were able to confine the fire to the building.
Fire Captain Gary Silva climbed on the roof of the garage and broke open a skylight from which flames and a column of smoke erupted.
The homeowner reported that shotgun shells were stored in the garage.
"Ammunition is less dangerous in a fire when not loaded in a gun," said Silva. "More often, the shell flies backward and leaves the bullet in place and with all the padding we wear, there is very little danger."
Other firefighters on the scene said that they heard no shells explode.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
