Fire destroys Spanish Fork homes

SPANISH FORK — A fire that officials say began in a carport destroyed two homes, two vehicles and a motor home early Sunday morning before crews were able to extinguish the blaze.

The Holdaways and the Terrys have taken up residence with family members living in the Salt Lake area and are attempting to cope with the disaster, said Char Blacker, a family friend and neighbor of the families. The families were able to exit their houses safely and no injuries were reported. Both families have four children under the age of 10.

"Those families are some of our best friends on the block," Blacker said. "We don't really live on a through street, so we're all close ... . This was pretty freaky."

Spanish Fork Fire Chief Brent Jarvis said that when trucks first arrived both homes were engulfed, and crews immediately began working to contain the fire to keep it from spreading.

Jarvis said it took the 35-man fire crew less than 20 minutes to knock the fire down. The cause of the fire, which began around 3:30 a.m., is still under investigation.