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OGDEN -- A fire destroyed an Ogden apartment building Sunday, leaving the people who lived there homeless.
Fire crews evacuated all 30 units of the complex, and from the looks of it, no one will be allowed back anytime soon.
Residents say the fire started with a bang. "I could smell smoke, something burning. I went up to the front and told my boyfriend, ‘something stinks and is burning,'" said resident Maria Pecht.
That smell was the fire starting to eat away at the third floor structure and the attic. Just after 3 p.m., someone called 911. People started evacuating on their own almost immediately.
Pecht said, "The lady from upstairs told me to get out, that her apartment was on fire. So I got out."
Ogden firefighters, along with crews from Roy and South Ogden, responded to the complex near 2300 Quincy Avenue.
By that time, there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the third floor and attic. During their initial search, the fire started spreading rapidly, forcing them out.
Deputy Chief Chad Tucker of the Ogden City Fire Department said, "We wanted to get a full search of every apartment in that structure, but we were unable to do so."
Crews say they received confirmation from residents that no one else was inside. Some tenants had to leave pets behind.
The blaze smoldered for hours, causing crews to rotate in and out. "It's a very hot day, so we're rotating fire crews in to fight the blaze, then go back and rest and get them rehydrated," said Tucker.
Despite their hard work, the building is a total loss. Damage is estimated to be close to $750,000.
The fire marshal was on scene earlier leading the investigation. As of Sunday night, investigators don't have any information on a cause.
The fire chief says it could take days to determine how the fire started.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
