ST. GEORGE — A home was heavily damaged in a structure fire that reportedly tore through the roof as firefighters worked to spare the interior of the home early Saturday evening.
Shortly before 6:30 p.m. fire crews and emergency personnel were dispatched to a structure fire reported at a residence in the 1100 block on West Columbine Circle, just northwest west of Bloomington Drive in St. George, involving a split-level home where flames were visible.
St. George Fire Chief Robert Stoker told St. George News the department arrived to find flames and heavy smoke coming from underneath the tile roof of the split-level home, while multiple engines and ladder trucks began arriving at the scene.
Stoker went on to say the fire was called in by one of the homeowners who saw smoke, adding the family was able to safely evacuate with all of their pets and were waiting outside when fire crews arrived.
The gas and power to the home was already shut off when crews arrived, which Stoker said was done by one of the homeowners after calling 911, which was “very good on their part to be able to do that,” he said.
Fire crews began fighting the blaze that had already breached the underlying structure and support trusses and continued to spread through a large section of the roof, while the department’s ladder truck was deployed to fight the fire from above.
Inside of the home, firefighters pulled ceiling tiles and other materials so they could reach the fire still burning down through the attic to extinguish any fire extensions before they had a chance to burn through the interior of the residence.
“So once we gained access to the fire from the inside by pulling the ceiling, we were able to extinguish the flames before they could do any more damage to the kitchen and part of the living area,” Stoker said.
Once the active flames were out, crews then began the task of overhauling the residence in search of burning embers, including pulling material from the scorched area to extinguish anything still smoldering and prevent the fire from reigniting, a task that took nearly two hours.
The blaze appeared to have started in an area near the HVAC unit located in the attic of the home, and likely burned for some time before there were any indicators that something was wrong, gauging from the amount of damage crews found.
A large section of the roof on the south side of the home sustained extensive fire damage and part of the roof was missing, while the kitchen and surrounding areas, as well as one of the back bedrooms also sustained heavy fire, smoke and water damage. The remainder of the home, including the basement, sustained smoke and water damage.
Stoker also said the family has been displaced by the fire and told fire personnel they planned to stay with relatives until repairs can be made. The damage to the home is estimated to be in excess of $80,000, the chief said, and the exact cause is undetermined.
No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.
The St. George Fire Department responded with multiple engines, a squad truck and two ladder trucks, along with the St. George Police Department and Gold Cross Ambulance. No injuries were reported.
This report is based on statements from police, emergency personnel or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Photo gallery
Smoke can be seen in the distance when a two-story residence catches fire on West Columbine Circle in St. George, Utah, March 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Paul Linford, St. George News St. George Fire Department sends multiple engines to tackle blaze burning through two-story residence on West Columbine Circle in St. George, Utah, March 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Paul Linford, St. George News St. George Fire Department's ladder 21 is deployed to tackle blaze burning through two-story residence on West Columbine Circle in St. George, Utah, March 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Paul Linford, St. George News Flames are visible from the roof of a two-story residence that catches fire on West Columbine Circle in St. George, Utah, March 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Paul Linford, St. George News Firefighters tackle blaze burning through two-story residence on West Columbine Circle in St. George, Utah, March 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Paul Linford, St. George News St. George Fire Department sends multiple engines to tackle blaze burning through two-story residence on West Columbine Circle in St. George, Utah, March 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Paul Linford, St. George News 
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