Fire destroys West Valley home

WEST VALLEY CITY — A discarded cigarette is being blamed for a large fire that destroyed the home of a family of five.

Just after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, a person disposed of a cigarette by tossing it into an outside garbage can near the back of a house at 3877 S. 6840 West. The mother in the house then left to take her children to school, a block away.

When she returned, heavy flames were coming from her house, said West Valley Fire Battalion Chief Bob Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said the cigarette apparently lit the garbage can on fire, which in turn spread to the deck and then the caught the siding on fire. The flames quickly spread to three points on the house.

"It went amazingly fast," he said. "It got to the back of the house, it got into the attic, and it got into the garage. It was a defensive fire from the beginning."

A steady breeze helped fuel the flames and increased the difficulties for firefighters.

Thick black smoke could be seen for miles. Initially, there were reports that two of the children were unaccounted for, but they were later found and determined to be safe.

Damage is estimated at between $200,000 to $250,000, Fitzgerald said.

"The home is a complete loss," he said. "On the main and second floors, everything is gone."

Crews needed 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. The Red Cross and relatives were helping the displaced family.

Fitzgerald said the incident should serve as a reminder to everyone to be cautious with fire, especially heading into the July Fourth weekend.

e-mail: preavy@desnews.com