Fire destroys Washington Terrace house, motor home

WASHINGTON TERRACE — A large fire destroyed a family's house and motor home Tuesday morning.

The fire was reported about 6:15 a.m. at 379 W. 5000 South in Washington Terrace. A man and a woman in their 50s lived in the house, said Washington Terrace Deputy Fire Chief Alan Mills. The woman left for work between 5 and 5:30 a.m.

The man was still in bed and the smoke detectors were going off when he was awakened by a neighbor pounding on the door, trying to get the man out of the house because it was on fire, Mills said.

Investigators believed the blaze started in a basement kitchen. The flames spread quickly through the older home, eventually reaching the roof and spreading to the motor home parked next to the house, Mills said.

"When the fire spread to the motor home it spread quickly," he said.

When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting 20 to 30 feet from the roof and some nearby trees caught fire. The blaze was contained by 6:50 a.m. but not completely extinguished until 9 a.m. Firefighters from South Ogden and Riverdale were called to assist.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated Tuesday. Damage to the house was estimated at $200,000 while the motor home, also a complete loss, was estimated to be between $60,000 to $80,000, Mills said.

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