4 families displaced by fire in Bountiful condo six-plex

BOUNTIFUL — Four families were forced from their homes Saturday by a fire that did an estimated $300,000 damage to the condominium complex where they live.

The two-alarm fire started around 9 a.m. in a center unit of a six-plex located at 1322 E. Ridgewood Lane, said South Davis Metro Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Bassett. The construction of the condo units and their age made it difficult for firefighters to battle the blaze, Bassett said.

"(The condos) have a common attic and a common floor space," he said. "That means, once the fire gets between the walls, it can run the floor of all six units or it can chase up into the attic and run the entire attic."

Bassett said the units in the center of the complex, where the fire started, were unoccupied. They suffered heavy fire damage, as did the two occupied units to the south. The units on the north side of the complex, which are also occupied, have extensive water damage, Bassett said.

Fire officials are not calling the blaze suspicious at this point but will conduct a thorough investigation.

"It's going to take several weeks to try to determine, if we're able to, the cause of the fire," Bassett said. "There is really significant damage to the entire structure — the floors are burnt through, rafters are burnt through. It was a pretty significant fire."

Bassett said there were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

"Some of the folks, they lost their clothes. They lost everything they had," Bassett said.

The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross said it is helping those displaced by the fire with food, shelter, clothing and counseling if needed.

— Geoff Liesik