This week's heroes are two young guys who were driving by an auto repair shop and noticed the outside cigarette receptacle on fire next to the building. If they hadn't stopped to put it out, the building likely would have caught fire. Here's to these two conscientious guys who thought enough to help and make the world a better place.
(Photo: Preston Horton, left, and Blake Carter of Somersworth, seen Monday, Aug. 25, 2026, worked together using a frying pan to put out a fire at Central Park Garage Aug. 20. Credit: Foster's Daily Democrat)
Young men use frying pan to stop Somersworth garage fire: 'Right thing to do'Karen Dandurant, Foster's Daily Democrat .Aug. 27, 2026,
SOMERSWORTH — Two young men acted quickly last week, extinguishing a fire at Central Park Garage, potentially preventing a much worse outcome.
Preston Horton and Blake Carter, both 21 and Somersworth residents, were driving around 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, when they noticed the fire at the auto repair business at 470 High St.
They decided to turn around and go back to help. The garage is open weekdays and closes at 5:30 p.m., according to its listed hours.
"We were leaving Market Basket after getting subs for dinner," Carter said. "We were heading towards Walmart when I saw smoke in the air. Then I saw flames at a garage."
"We did a U-turn," Carter said. "We saw the receptacle for cigarettes beside the building was on fire."
"At first I didn't really believe Blake, but we turned around anyway," Horton said. "It just seemed like the right thing to do. There was no one else around when we got there."
Horton said he runs a local junk removal business, while Carter works in landscaping, and both feel connected to the community.
"We try to do one thing good a day," Carter said. "Like if we see an older man at the dump, we will unload his truck for him."
A mini fire brigade with a frying pan
The fire was not large, but it was burning strongly, they said. They called the city Fire Department and then tried to figure out what they could do themselves.
"We tried to find water," Carter said. "Preston found a water bottle. We ran around the building trying to find a spigot, and Preston noticed one on a nearby building. I went into the trunk of Preston's car, saw a frying pan, and grabbed that."
Central Park Garage at 470 High St. in Somersworth, seen Aug. 25, 2026, was the site of a smoking receptacle fire Aug. 20. The fire was prevented from spreading by two young men who put it out before it spread to the building.
The two men ran back and forth between the garage and the spigot until the fire was out.
"I got that pan off the side of road," said Horton. "I was planning on going camping this weekend and it would be useful. I refilled the water bottle for about 15 trips. Luckily the building did not catch on fire. I am not sure how long it had been going by the time we noticed it. The ashtray thing was melted."
The Fire Department responded in about five minutes.
Deputy Fire Chief James Drakopoulos said the department appreciates the quick action taken by the young men.
"They probably did help keep the fire from spreading to other parts of the building," Drakopoulos said. "We want to thank them for doing what they could to protect our citizens."
Because the fire seems to have started in the cigarette receptacle, Drakopoulos said, it's a good reminder to keep smoking containers 25 feet away from buildings.
"We would also remind everyone not to put themselves in danger from a fire," he said. "We appreciate what they did, but do not want to see anyone in harm's way."
A woman who identified herself as a manager at Central Park Garage said the business plans to offer Horton and Carter free oil changes to thank them. She said the owner, who is listed as William (Bill) Stowell, declined to comment for this story.
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