SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 6, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The rapid response of Salt Lake City firefighters on Sunday averted what could have been a much more serious incident at a home in Concord Street.
SLC Fire Department Captain Tony Allred said the incident began at about 3 p.m. at 241 S. Concord St.
“Residents of the home noticed a lot of smoke in their basement, immediately called 911, (and) Salt Lake Fire responded,” Allred said. “We did find a lot of smoke coming from the house, especially the rear of the home. We upgraded the assignment because of the wood frame construction of the home, we didn’t want it to extend any further than it already had.
“Thanks to fast action from the arriving companies, we were able to expose the area in the walls where the fire was, and got it under control quickly, before it got up in the attic or exterior walls, saving the vast majority of the home. We were able to save enough of the home that it looks like tonight, the residents won’t be displaced.”
The two adult residents of the home and at least one dog were uninjured. There were no injuries to firefighters.
Allred said Salt Lake City Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
“Homes in the neighborhood are of older construction, and wood framed homes of this type lend themselves to quick fire extension up into the attic,” he said. “What initially starts as a basement or first floor or wall fire extends quickly and make it more difficult to fight.
“Fortunately, in this case, we were able to put enough resources out there that we got the walls open, (and) got the fire under control before it became a situation where it was running freely through the home.”
Allred said the incident serves as a reminder to the public to not try to tackle a fire themselves.
“We always encourage people, if they notice smoke in their home, smell smoke in their home, even notice a small fire in the home, (to) avoid the urge to try and attack the fire themselves first. They should call 911 and evacuate.
“We have under a three-minute response time to the vast majority of homes in Salt Lake City, and we bring enough resources that we can quickly stem a fire. We would rather come and deal with it than deal with putting out the fire and deal with homeowner injuries.”
