Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST JORDAN -- A three-alarm fire heavily damaged a home in West Jordan Saturday evening. No one was injured.
The fire started near 6700 South and 2850 West around 7:40 p.m. It's unclear how many people were in the home at the time, but firefighters say everyone got out safely.
Investigators say they don't know yet what caused the fire. They say it may have started in the garage, where a family member may have been welding just prior to the fire.
Battalion Chief Rodger Broone of the West Jordan Fire Department said, "Our initial information is that the homeowner was working with a ... torch inside the garage approximately one hour before the fire was discovered."
When firefighters arrived, the double garage was engulfed in flames and the fire had spread to the home. Crews had to fight the fire defensively from the outside. It took about an hour to put out.
Witnesses say they first noticed smoke coming from the garage. They thought it was a barbecue, but then they realized it was much more serious when they saw the flames.
Witness Rob Dixon says he took cell phone video of the fire. He said, "My dad was over trying to get a garden hose going to get it put out, but there was a big tank of fuel in the garage so they didn't dare. All of a sudden, boom. It just blew."
Fire officials did not confirm that any fuel was in the garage. Damage is estimated at $400,000.
The family is missing two cats following the fire.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
