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Sam Penrod ReportingRichard Dutcher: "Pretty much all of our remaining prints of the original God's Army are gone."
Fire ripped through the offices of Utah filmmaker Richard Dutcher, destroying much of his work. Dutcher is most well known for creating the movie God's Army and other motion pictures designed for the LDS audience. What makes the fire so ironic, is that Dutcher's office is right next door to the fire station.
Until a month ago this was the Mapleton City office and that is why it is next door to the fire station. Dutcher was leasing the building and moved in just two weeks ago. The fire caused severe damage. It is be believed to have been accidental.
Richard Dutcher is use to sitting in a director's chair, calling the shots, but today the drama was real and all he could do was sit back and watch.
Richard Dutcher: "It's ironic, isn't it?"
Dutcher had almost everything from his filmmaking career inside the building, which is across the street from where he filmed his movie, Brigham City. Film prints of God's Army as well his newest movie, State's Of Grace, were also stored inside. But losing the little things seems to hurt the most.
Richard Dutcher: "Most of the things I think were lost were just things with sentimental value, some posters with signatures of my cast and crew that kind of thing."
The fire was reported at 7:30 this morning. But because the firefighters are all volunteers, no one was at the fire station, which was right next door to the burning building.
Derald Olsen, Asst Chief, Mapleton Fire Dept.: "It's a little eerie when you get a call that your fire station is on fire."
Crews moved out the fire trucks so they could fight the fire. Investigators believe the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion from materials being used to remodel the building.
Derald Olsen, Asst Chief, Mapleton Fire Dept. "We had the fire marshal come in and do an investigation, and that's what they've determined that the cause was, lint seed oil and rags that hadn't been taken care of properly."
As for Dutcher, he is taking the fire in stride, seeing it as yet another challenge as he pursues his dreams as a filmmaker.
Richard Dutcher: "It's another complication, I don't think it is a major tragedy. We'll get up and keep things going. And I guess that's what you do, get up and start over again."
Damage to the building is estimated to be $200,000. The contents belonging to Dutcher could be much more. Dutcher hopes to stay here and keep his business in Mapleton.
