Tooele home destroyed in early morning fire

TOOELE — A Tooele home was destroyed by fire early Thursday, but the couple inside woke up to the smell of smoke and were able to safely escape.

Police were called to 1575 E. Pheasant Lane just before 1:30 a.m. when the homeowner discovered the fire on the second floor, Tooele County sheriff's deputy Steve Hansen said. The man and his wife woke to the smell of smoke and called 911.

Hansen said the fire was actually between the first and second floors of the home, making it difficult for firefighters to extinguish.

North Tooele Fire District and the Tooele County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident. The home is still standing, but the inside is all but destroyed.

The couple were the only occupants of the home and they were able to exit the building without injury. Friends came to take them to a shelter as firefighters continued to battle the blaze.

North Tooele County firefighter Kirk Arnold estimated the damage to the home was close to $200,000. It is believed the building is a total loss.

Arnold said a wood-burning stove placed in the center of the home appears to have started the blaze. The flume of the chimney apparently became compromised, which led to smoke getting into a void space between the second and first floors.

"It caused a lot of havoc," Arnold said.

— Emiley Morgan Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam