Fire rips through Hurricane home, damages 2 others; STGnews Videocast, Photo Gallery

Written by Kimberly Scott
February 25, 2015

HURRICANE – Another family is without a home Wednesday after a fire ripped through one Hurricane home and spread to two neighboring homes. The fire destroyed the house where it originated as well as a truck, a car and a travel trailer, and it caused damage to two nearby homes, as well.

Fire crews battle house fire in Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 25, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News
Fire crews battle house fire in Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 25, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

The fire reportedly started about 1:40 p.m. in the garage of a home located at 467 N. 230 West, near Hurricane Middle School.

“They were doing some work in that area of the garage where the fire started,” Hurricane Valley Fire Chief Tom Kuhlmann said. “(The homeowner) didn’t see it when it started. He tried to put it out himself before he called us, so it allowed it to advance.”

The residents of the home – a young family – were safely evacuated, Kuhlmann said. Residents of nearby homes were also evacuated.

Hurricane resident Candice McMahon was in the Hurricane Middle School parking lot to pick up her daughter from school when she first noticed smoke coming from the home.

“As I was getting out of the car, I saw black smoke – a plume of black smoke coming up from the neighbor’s, and I just thought somebody had a burn permit,” McMahon said.

“Within two minutes, by the time I had went into the school and come back out,” she said, “the garage was fully engulfed in flames and it had already started to engulf the … camp trailer.”

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Fire crews battle house fire in Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 25, 2015 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Witnesses reported hearing loud pops and bangs as the flames spread quickly throughout the home and then over to a neighboring home north of the house.

Firefighters arriving on scene immediately began offensive operations to protect the residences on both the north and south of the burning home, Hurricane City Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said.

“It started here and the winds were blowing, prevailing in this direction, and took a plunge right against that house,” Kuhlmann said, pointing to the northern home.

The residence on the north quickly caught fire but firefighters were able to knock down the flames before the home was a total loss. The residence to the south sustained minor exterior damage, Buell said.

Though the fire does not appear to be suspicious, Buell said, the investigation is ongoing. Damages are estimated at $210,000, he said.

Hurricane Valley, Washington City and Colorado City Fire departments all responded to the scene and battled the blaze. A total of eight apparatuses and 30 firefighters fought the fire, Buell said.

The Hurricane City Police Department provided scene control and traffic control during the incident.

Fire crews battle a house fire at 467 N. 230 West, Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 25, 2015 | Photo by Candice McMahon, St. George News
Fire crews battle a house fire at 467 N. 230 West, Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 25, 2015 | Photo by Candice McMahon, St. George News

Nearby Hurricane Middle School was not impacted by the fire, Buell said, but the location of the equipment needed to fight the fire affected school buses entering and leaving the school.

“Officers were able to mitigate this so the buses and parents could pick up their students,” Buell said.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by authorities and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kimberly Scott is a lifetime resident of Southern Utah. In 2013, Kimberly joined St. George News as a vital member of its editing, reporting and administrative team. She is passionate about engaging communities through writing and is dedicated to providing complete and accurate coverage of both anticipated and breaking news.

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4 Comments

  • ladybugavenger February 25, 2015 at 11:43 pm

    What in the world is going on with these house fires? Good to hear no one was hurt, but dang I hope they have home owners insurance.

    • RealMcCoy February 26, 2015 at 10:55 am

      The owner was welding and grinding on a car inside his garage. He’s lucky he didn’t win a Darwin Award.

  • anybody home February 26, 2015 at 9:41 am

    Re the photos…quantity is not quality. How about four or five of the best with some captions and identities of fire crew instead.

  • GROANATTACK February 27, 2015 at 11:55 am

    He should of taken a cab then he wouldn’t of been working on his car and started a fire and it’s cheaper than buying a new house

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