A local taxi driver alerted residents of a home on Canada Drive in St. John's that a shed was on fire in their backyard early Saturday morning, likely saving their home.

The City Wide driver noticed the shed was burning when he drove by the home at around 4:15 a.m., and knocked on the door of the house, which was divided into two separate apartments.

By the time St. John's Regional Fire Department arrived around 4:30 a.m. the shed was completely destroyed and the fire was beginning to spread to the nearby home, with the vinyl siding starting to melt on the side closest to the shed.

A member of the fire department told CBC there was also damage to a number of overhead wires.

Newfoundland Power and other utilities have all been notified of the damage and are working to repair the wires. There were reports of power outages as a result of the damage but has since been restored.

There were no injuries reported in the incident. A family member from the upstairs apartment of the house told CBC that they estimate the cost of the damages to the side of the house and shed to be roughly $5,000. The house and shed were covered under insurance.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.