Structure fire on Tabernacle sends one man to the hospital

Written by Cody Blowers
March 11, 2016

ST. GEORGE — A man who broke out a window in order to escape a structure fire in St. George was transported to the hospital with cuts and burns Friday.

The St. George Communications Center received several calls around 4:30 p.m. of smoke coming from a building located on the 600 block of East Tabernacle. Emergency crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from a building set back from the road and were told one person was still inside, said St. George City Fire Chief Robert Stoker.

Firefighters forced entry into the building and after searching outside found one man suffering from burns and a cut he received after breaking a window and jumping out to escape the flames, Stoker said. The man was stabilized before being transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center.

After setting up ventilation to clear the smoke, firefighters searched the building.  The initial investigation showed the fire was contained to an office area and storage room inside a mechanic’s shop, Stoker said.

While the building was listed as unoccupied it appeared to be used for transient purposes, Stoker said, adding clothing and debris was scattered on the floor.

“The fire department is investigating the fire and the police are interviewing the man who was inside when it started,” Stoker said.

Initial reports indicated there may have been a drug lab inside the building. Emergency personnel used additional caution when entering and clearing the scene. Nothing was found to support that allegation, said Stoker, “so that’s unfounded at this time.”

Firefighters kept the fire from spreading and city utility crews cut power to the building. The St. George City Police Department and Gold Cross Ambulance also responded.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cody Blowers was raised in South San Francisco, California. A 2013 graduate of Colorado Technical University, Cody earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in paralegal studies. Through the course of her academic studies she discovered that writing is her true passion, and she is committed to providing credible, integrated news coverage. Cody joined St. George News in 2015, and when she’s not busy chasing the news, she can generally be found chasing her young granddaughter, Kali.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews

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