Firefighters battle 2-alarm blaze in Millcreek

Fire crews responded to a blaze in an abandoned structure Tuesday night, Nov. 28, 2017, after neighbors called 911 to report a lot of smoke in the area of 3300 South and 800 East. Photo: Gephardt Daily

MILLCREEK, Utah, Nov. 28, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Fire crews responded to a blaze in an abandoned structure Tuesday night after neighbors called 911 to report a lot of smoke in the area of 3300 South and 800 East.

Matt McFarland, public information officer for Unified Fire Authority, said the call came in at about 8:20 p.m.

When crews arrived, they had to go into defensive mode because there was a great deal of fire visible at the rear of the structure. Firefighters had to start in the backyard to knock down flames before they were able to enter the building.

A second alarm was called because of the extent of the fire, and 3300 South was shut down to traffic.

McFarland said the building was a residential structure that had been turned into a duplex, and the addition was larger than the original home.

It took firefighters 20 to 25 minutes from the time they were dispatched to the time they had the blaze under control, he said, but they will be on scene for several hours to make sure the fire is completely extinguished and there are no hot spots that could re-ignite.

McFarland said neighbors told officials the building has been empty for about six months, and they say they have seen squatters come and go.

Officials will be sifting through the ashes for any evidence that will help them determine the exact cause of the fire.

McFarland said it wasn’t possible to estimate a dollar amount of damage. The addition to the structure is a total loss, he said, but he believes the entire building was already scheduled for demolition. Whoever owns the property was not on scene to confirm any details.

McFarland said crews from South Salt Lake Fire Department also responded to the fire and their help was greatly appreciated.

No residents, pets or firefighters were injured in this incident.

 

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