TAYLORSVILLE — A house here suffered extensive damage Tuesday from a large fire that officials said burned hot and fast.

"It very likely could be a total loss," said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Clint Smith.

At about 11:30 a.m., several witnesses heard a popping sound or "bang" before flames erupted from the rear of the house, near 4500 South and 1300 West.

"I knocked on the door to see if anyone was inside," said Vladimir Vasiljevic, who was driving in the area at the time and stopped to see what was happening. "The smoke was so bad. I kept yelling and yelling and yelling (inside the house)."

Vasiljevic went to a side door where he kicked it open and was about to enter to make sure no one was inside, but "the flames were just getting too big."

Fortunately, all four occupants of the house were not at home when the fire started. The occupants had left at about 9:30 a.m., Smith said.

When the first fire crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames in the rear and basement of the house. The fire in the basement was knocked down fairly quickly. But the flames in the rear spread to the attic, where a pitched roof had been built on top of the previously flat-roofed structure, he said.

Fire crews were forced to use an ax and chain saw to cut the roof open. Early damage estimates to the house were at $200,000.

The homeowner, Gale Fairbourn, was called by neighbors and arrived at the house a short time later. Two pets remained unaccounted for Tuesday.

A possible cause was still being investigated. But Smith said the fire appeared to be accidental and started on the outside of the house. The home had a barbecue on the back deck that the homeowner told authorities was used last night. There was no word Tuesday if that may have been the cause of the inferno.

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