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WEST VALLEY CITY — A body was discovered inside a burning home in West Valley City Wednesday, officials said.
Firefighters are continuing their work to extinguish the house fire at 3271 W. 4400 South, according to West Valley City Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Fitzgerald. He said the fire was "mostly" put out at about 2:30 p.m., but crews were still working on a few hot spots.
Crews accessed garage. Filled with smoke. pic.twitter.com/fx12j0u3Ur
— WVC Fire Department (@wvcfd) March 9, 2016
The adult man who died inside the home has not yet been identified. Investigators said the man was about 10 to 15 feet from the door of the house.
It is "too early to speculate" about the cause of the fire or the death, according to the West Valley City Fire Department. Fitzgerald said the fire was reported at 1 p.m. and it was already well involved when fire crews arrived, with smoke pouring out the front of the home. Fire crews entered the home to start an offensive attack on the fire.
Investigators on scene at fire house where body was discovered inside. Crews contending w/few remaining hot spots. pic.twitter.com/XJxFixdwhL
— WVC Fire Department (@wvcfd) March 9, 2016
"As they got in just a little bit they found one male that was deceased," Fitzgerald said. "He is still in there and things are under investigation right now. We're just starting to get to the point where our investigators are being able to get in and take a good look at things inside."
A joint investigation by the fire department and the West Valley City Police Department is ongoing. The state medical examiner will take custody of the body for an autopsy.
Investigators said the fire caused $75,000 in damage.
Neighbor Don Darling said the man who died in the fire lived at the home with his father. Darling noticed the fire Wednesday afternoon, figured the man was inside and tried to save him, he said.
He said he and another neighbor tried to get in the home but were unsuccessful.
"(We) couldn't go inside; there was no way. The smoke was so bad, you just couldn't get in there," Darling said.
He and the other neighbors are grieving at the man's death, Darling said.
"It's just a sad, sad day," he said.
Contributing: Nicole Vowell, Ben Lockhart
