Cold weather takes a toll as crews battle attic fire in Cottonwood Heights

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Fire crews worked late into the night Monday removing smoldering insulation and investigating the cause of an attic fire.

Unified Fire Capt. Clint Mecham said a woman who was alone in the home called 911 just before 5 p.m. to report a fire in the attic. Thick, black smoke was coming from the roof when firefighters arrived at 2255 E. 6200 South, and crews actively fought the fire for about 30 minutes.

The fire was contained to the attic, but other areas of the home suffered smoke and water damage. The extent of the damage was unknown Monday night, and the family was staying with relatives.

Intense cold took a toll on firefighters, and low temperatures caused the water to freeze as teams sought to extinguish the blaze, Mecham said.

"Extreme weather like we're having right now with the cold provides a whole set of obstacles we don't face any other time of the year," he said. "It becomes a very labor-intensive and manpower-intensive firefight in these conditions."

In light of weather conditions and the location of the fire, crews originally ordered a second alarm be assigned to the fire, Mecham said. As suppression efforts got under way, that alarm was canceled.

— McKenzie Romero

Twitter: @McKenzieRomero