FIREWORKS BLAMED IN 3 HOUSE FIRES

Three Salt Lake area house fires are being blamed on Pioneer Day fireworks _ and quick-acting neighbors are being credited with saving lives in two of the fires.

Sandy
1362 E. Jasmine Ave.

Robert Thompson and his family, 1362 E. Jasmine Ave. (9940 South), were sleeping when one of their newest neighbors, Charles Hedrick, started pounding on their door and yelling after he saw the home burst into flames just before midnight Monday.
``The whole inside of the garage was on fire when I saw it,'' he said. ``The flames were just shooting out.''
The five family members were able to escape the burning home quickly, but they were initially concerned that one family member, Shawn, 16, was still inside of the house. ``We threw a rock through the basement window to see if he was there,'' Hedrick said.
Firefighters later discovered that the youth had indeed gotten out of the house but was in a different location than the rest of the family. Sandy Battalion Chief Marlen Webster said such an incident is an example of why families should have a pre-planned escape route and meeting place in case of a fire.
``I think they were so lucky to get out of there because it went up so fast,'' said neighbor Jim Peters.
``We could have lost a family. A little later in the night and we probably would have,'' Hedrick said.
All three Sandy fire stations and as many volunteers as could be rounded up were called to fight the early morning house fire, Webster said. ``There were flames coming out from everywhere when we arrived.''
Four engines and about 20 firefighters were able to control the blaze within 10 minutes. ``From then on, it was just digging out the hot spots,'' he said.
Although no damage estimate was immediately available, the fire gutted the garage and part of the house, destroying a new Ford Escort, a sedan and a boat parked next to the garage.
Neighbors said they could feel the heat from the fire at their homes a half block away and also reported hearing two explosions.
``Something blew out of the garage twice and went clear across the street,'' said Bernice Hedrick.
Webster said the fire was caused by fireworks. Residents said a lot of fireworks had been set off in the neighborhood throughout the evening.

Bountiful
1167 E. 200 South

In another fireworks-related fire, Bountiful firefighters were called out of their beds for the second night in a row early Monday.
Thirty-three firefighters battled the blaze at the home of Gregory Hill, 1167 E. 200 South, after it was reported at 12:47 a.m. The fire, which started in a boat parked alongside the house, burned three cars, the garage and spread to the house. Flames were extinguished in about 15 minutes, but fire crews stayed at the scene for about two hours monitoring hot spots.
Neighbors reported the fire, and the sleeping family was easily aroused. No one was injured.
``We suspect fireworks landing on top of the tarp on the boat, igniting the boat, then it spread,'' said Bountiful Deputy Fire Chief Ron Hatch. ``There were numerous fireworks going off in the area previously that night. We did find some spent bottle-rockets lying on the ground.''
``We've been up the last couple nights,'' Hatch said. ``We kind of hope that people will realize that this is the cause of a lot of property damage and personal damage. Is it worth a few minutes of pleasure?''

1853 S. Jeri Drive

A fire early Monday morning that is also blamed on fireworks caused an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 damage to the home of Don Steward, 1853 S. Jeri Drive, according to the Bountiful Fire Department.
The blaze started three or four feet off the ground in a juniper bush and then spread to the Steward home. It was reported at 1:07 a.m. Monday by Bountiful police units, which reported flames shooting 30 to 40 feet in the air.
The family was out of town, firefighters reported. Fire crews had the blaze out within 20 minutes of arriving on the scene but spent another three to four hours at the house, making sure the fire didn't flare up again.
And, earlier in the weekend, a grass fire behind a service station at 2100 S. Orchard Drive. Saturday morning is also suspected of being sparked by fireworks. The blaze burned a small area in a field but did no damage to any structures, firefighters said.