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Car's remote start may have started garage fire

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A Royal Oak homeowner says he tried beating the cold by remotely starting his car.

The next thing he knew, two cars and his garage were engulfed in flames.

Charred rubble and debris are all that’s left behind from that garage fire Thursday afternoon in Royal Oak on Manor.

What makes this different is the homeowner tells 7 Action News he remote started his 2014 Cadillac CTS for five minutes, and came outside to find his car on fire.

Sgt. Jeff Stock says he believes the fire originated from the car, but doesn't know why it started.

The homeowner says he tried using a fire extinguisher, but by the time he opened the door, the car was engulfed in flames. Another car inside the garage was also destroyed.

Thankfully, the homeowner was able to walk away safely.

Royal Oak fire investigators will be back on scene on Friday to sift through this debris, searching for the cause behind the fire.