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VERNON, Tooele County -- A fire destroyed three homes in Vernon Thursday and has left several people homeless. The fire also forced evacuations in the small town.
The fire destroyed two trailer homes and an empty manufactured home. It started just before 10:30 Thursday morning. Someone called 911, reporting the fire at a trailer home behind the Silver Sage Cafe.
Firefighters say there were 500-gallon propane tanks next to each of the three mobile homes. The heat began to cause the propane to boil, so residents in Vernon were evacuated for a couple of hours.
Students at Vernon Elementary School were also evacuated and moved to a nearby church.
Witnesses say the fire burned quickly. Tom Larsen, who lived in one of the destroyed homes, said he tried to help put out the fire at his neighbor's trailer. He used his garden hose, but the flames were too much.
He said, "We opened the door. And when we opened the door, it just backdrafted on top of us, and we got out."
He lost everything in his home except for his guns, which were sitting by the door. He said, "Glass was breaking when I got in, and I didn't dare go down the hallway to get anything else. I was afraid I'd get trapped."
A couple with two children lived in the trailer where the fire started. They are safe, but their dog was in the bedroom and died.
The Red Cross is now helping them with clothes, food and shelter.
Tom Larsen, who lost his home, says several people have offered him a place to stay.
There are only 230 people in the Tooele County town, and it is a close-knit community.
Jerry Houghton, the owner of the Silver Sage Cafe, said, "Even as bad as it is, it could have been a lot worse and pretty devastating for this town."
The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, but says it was accidental. Investigators say a space heater may be to blame.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
