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SPANISH FORK — Spanish Fork police and fire departments announced Wednesday that they have located the remains of an older woman who they believe is the homeowner of a twin home that was destroyed in a fire early Tuesday.
Searchers sifted through the debris of the home all day Wednesday, and located the remains around 3:45 p.m. The Utah State Medical Examiner has been asked to identify the victim, whose identity has not been released.
Firefighters responded to calls about a fire near 2970 E. Somerset Village Way around 6:36 a.m on Tuesday. When they arrived, they found one unit of the twin home engulfed in flames, according to Spanish Fork spokesman Nick Porter.
They quickly evacuated the occupants of the adjoining side, but were unable to make contact with the owner of the unit in flames. Porter said crews were not initially able to enter that side of the home because the first and second floors collapsed into the basement.
The fire was contained as of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Spanish Fork police said, but crews continued extinguishing some hot spots in the basement. Crews began removing debris from the home, but debris removal was conducted by hand because they believed the woman was still in the home, police said.
One Spanish Fork firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion on scene but was later released and is OK, Spanish Fork fire officials said.
There were no other occupants in the home, Porter said.
"We're grateful for that," he said.
Both units of the home are considered a total loss, and the American Red Cross is helping the displaced family.
Porter did not identify any of the residents.
