West Jordan fire may be arson

WEST JORDAN — Only a few blackened wood beams and a concrete foundation are left at a home under construction in a newly built subdivision here.

Firefighters said arson is the cause of a two-alarm fire that destroyed a pair of homes under construction and damaged a third. The fire was reported around 1:30 Monday morning at the Villas at Jordan Landing, 4195 West Millsden Lane.

"As we arrived, the home was fully involved in fire as well as the one to the north," said West Jordan Fire Battalion Chief Marc McElreath. Strong blowing south winds fanned the flames, which caused the roof on the home next door to collapse and charred the rest of it. The home on the other side suffered wall damage. Behind the homes, a vinyl fence was melted down.

On Monday, an arson investigative dog detected accelerant in the basement and garage area of the home that was leveled by the fire.

"Multiple points of flammable liquid were found," McElreath said. Fire investigators were looking for possible leads on Monday, but no suspects had been identified.

Investigators estimated the damage to the three homes at $500,000. The subdivision developer is expected to absorb the cost of the homes, which were under contract.

The Villas at Jordan Landing's developer, Richmond Homes, declined to comment on the fire Monday.

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