Springfield, OR. Eugene Springfield Fire is on scene of a structure fire at 2063 L St in Springfield this morning. Firefighters were alerted by a neighbor who had been smelling burning plastic and when they went to find the source, they noticed smoke pouring out of a garage. Arriving crews found fire in a detached garage that was being used as a dwelling. The fire attack was slowed by the amount of belongings within the space, but Firefighters were able to prevent extension to the home. The occupants were not in the garage at the time of the fire, but a search by Firefighters did locate several deceased pets. The cause is under investigation. The current housing crisis continues to push people to live in alternative living situations. It is important to understand that garages, outbuildings and other shelters are not designed/regulated with occupancy in mind, meaning they lack design features that slow/contain fire, allow for safe escape from fire or alerting devices to warn of fire. Our primary mission at Eugene Springfield Fire is to save lives regardless of the space you occupy. With this in mind, if you or someone you care about has to resort to alternative shelter, please take extra precautions for fire safety. Smoke detectors are a must, electrical safety is imperative, and anything with a spark/flame should be avoided in the space (smoking, open flame cooking and heating devices).