Structure fire in Veyo displaces family, causes $100,000 in damage

Flames are visible from roof area when home on North Main Street catches fire in Veyo, Utah, Feb. 6, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Dammeron Valley Fire Department, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Crews from multiple fire departments in Washington County responded to a structure fire in Veyo that has left a family displaced.

Firefighters respond to structure fire at residence on North Main Street in Veyo, Utah, Feb. 6, 2023 | Photo courtesy of the Dammeron Valley Fire Department, St. George News

The blaze was discovered when the occupants were awakened by the smell of smoke inside the home and called 911 just after 2 a.m. Monday.

The Veyo Fire Department was dispatched to a residence on North Main Street for a structure fire reportedly burning along one of the exterior walls to the rear of the residence.

Veyo Fire Chief Chris Larsen told St. George News that the homeowner called 911 when the occupants were awakened by the smell of smoke, while the family was able to safely evacuate and were outside the structure when the first engines arrived.

Fire crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from an electrical control box located towards the rear of the home that had spread into the roof. Rocky Mountain Power dispatched a technician to cut the power to the home as fire crews began an aggressive attack on the blaze.

The all-alarm fire also was sent to several fire departments across Washington County as multiple engines and ladder trucks were dispatched to the scene to assist. Shortly thereafter, the active flames were extinguished and crews then began the task of overhauling the affected areas in search of burning embers, including pulling drywall and other materials away from the scorched area. The search for hot spots and extinguishing of smoldering continued through the early morning hours.

The occupants were sleeping with their bedroom doors closed, which likely reduced the amount of smoke entering the rooms and prevented any further injuries from smoke inhalation, Hunter Wolfe, communications director for Dammeron Valley Fire Department posted in a message on the department’s social media site, along with several photos.

Larsen said the fire damage was confined to two rooms on the other side of the exterior wall where the electrical control box was located, and the rest of the structure sustained some smoke and water damage. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, which was fairly confined to the living room and the kitchen area, Larsen said.

“There was some smoke and minimal water damage to the rest of the structure,” he added.

The structure’s electrical system also sustained extensive damage in the fire, so much so, Larsen said, that the home is still without power. As such, the family will not be able to return to the home and are staying with relatives until repairs can be completed.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials suspect the blaze may have started when the electrical box malfunctioned, but that is preliminary information only, Larsen said. No injuries were reported.

Wolfe also recommended that residents practice the “Close Before You Doze” approach, which includes sleeping with bedroom doors closed to slow the spread of smoke in the event of a fire during the night. Installing and regularly testing smoke detectors in the living and sleeping areas of the home is also a critical measure to prevent the loss of life during a fire.

According to the Fire Safety Research Institute, the “Close Before You Doze” program is a straightforward approach that focuses on simple behavioral changes that can be critical in delaying the spread of fire without requiring any major effort or going out and buying anything.

The Veyo Fire Department, Diamond Valley Fire Department, Dammeron Valley Fire Department, St. George Fire Department, Central/Brookside Fire Department, Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue,  Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Gold Cross Ambulance responded and tended to the scene.

This report is based on statements from police, emergency personnel or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. 

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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