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Team coverageInvestigators looking into fires at two bank-owned homes under construction in West Jordan say arson likely is the cause. The two homes, which were damaged more on the inside than outside, are just a few hundred feet apart.
West Jordan Fire Chief Brad Wardle said, "We're handling it as a crime scene now. Our investigators, who are on scene, are processing it now."
Crews first responded to a fire at a home in the 9100 South block of Hidden Peak Dr. (1035 West) around 6 a.m. While there, they noticed a fire at a home to the north.
Firefighters said both fires started in the basements and quickly spread, waking up neighbors like Sean Wilson. He said, "I saw the fire trucks out front, then I saw the smoke coming out of this home."
One firefighter was injured while fighting the first fire. As crews were making their way inside the house, part of the structure collapsed. Wardle said, "One of the firefighters was trying to negotiate his way in through the doorway and part of the structure came down on him." Wardle said the firefighter didn't really have any injuries but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Another firefighter was also taken to the hospital after he injured his ankle. "Firefighting is a contact sport," Wardle said. "Part of our job is trying to keep ourselves safe. We realize we're in an unsafe environment."
"It's kind of deceiving," Wardle added. "And that's one of the things, you know, at six o'clock in the morning you can imagine what these crews are saying. You know, it doesn't look too bad, but there was a lot of smoke and fire coming out."
The builder of one of the homes, Derek Pulham, said he saw the story on KSL.com, recognized his house and went to the scene.
Pulham said the homes were currently in foreclosure and were owned by Credit Union One. His employer, Gold Medallion Homes, was contracted through the bank to finish one of the houses.
Yesterday he installed $15,000 worth of cabinets into the house. He said, "It's devastating obviously, all the work we put into this so far. I guess we're going to have to assess the damages and see where we're at."
Pulham said most of the homes in the neighborhood were worth $400,000 to $500,000.
He said he thought both homes were originally built by the same company, and it was suspicious that both became targets. He said, "It's very suspicious to me that it could be arson, especially since I was in there yesterday, and everything appeared to be normal."
The neighborhood is in shock following the arson. It was unnerving for Martha Long and Paul Margetts when the unfinished construction projects burned.
"The houses had been in this state for a long time," Long said.
"It was almost done on the inside," Margetts said. "It's tragic to see that."
Pulham said, "To see all your work go up in flames, it's very frustrating."
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