At least 1 home a total loss after fire in South Weber


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SOUTH WEBER — Three homes were damaged by a fire in South Weber Friday afternoon.

One home is a complete loss, according to South Weber fire chief Thomas Graydon. He said they received a report of a home being fully-involved by a fire at about 12:38 p.m. When crews arrived nine minutes later, they found the home entirely engulfed in flames.

“Flames were shooting out of the home about 30 to 40 feet at that point,” he said.

The house to the west of the main home was also involved in flames because the wind was blowing the fire to the west, according to investigators. Graydon said firefighters were able to stop that fire, which got into the attic, before it reached the garage.

The house to the east of the main home sustained heat damage due to the intensity of the blaze.

A small brush fire in an adjacent field also ignited as a result of the fire. Wind in the area worsened fire conditions, according to Graydon.

Photo: Patrick Barnes
Photo: Patrick Barnes

Firefighters from six agencies arrived on scene to battle the flames. Graydon said the biggest challenges were the wind and the sheer intensity of the fire.

“When you have a home that size burning through the roof when you arrive, there is a lot of fire load, there’s a lot of heat and with wind playing into it, it causes a lot of trouble,” he said. “You can’t get inside of it in order to put it out so you start what you call a defensive attack.”

No one was injured during the fire. Graydon said there was a pet in the backyard of the home that was a total loss, but a bystander let it out and the animal was returned to its family.

Robert Ahrenstorff, whose daughter Ashley Wendt lives in the house with her husband and children, said he was alerted to the fire by a phone call from his pastor. When he arrived, Ahrenstorff said, the house "was fully engulfed in flames."

"It was very tough to see," he said. "We are just thankful that God was watching over our kids and our grandkids, and we’re all safe. We as Christians believe God works all things together for good. … Whatever lessons we can learn, we don’t know. But we’re going to just lean on God."

Ahrenstorff added that his daughter's family has good home insurance and the family's friends have "surrounded" them with support. He said some additions were recently put in place at the home.

Officials estimate the fire caused at least $500,000 of damage. It also displaced a family with two young sons, according to family friends.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. While there is no sign of foul play, a state accelerate dog is being brought in to investigate the scene.

Contributing: Marc Giauque, Mike Anderson, Ben Lockhart

Photo: Shane Lyon
Photo: Shane Lyon

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