Structure fire displaces Hildale residents; cause remains under investigation

Hildale/Colorado City Fire Department engine, Hildale, Utah, April 28, 2019 | File photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Several Hildale residents were displaced following a structure fire Thursday afternoon.

This file photo shows a Hildale-Colorado City Fire Department engine, Hildale, Utah, April 28, 2019 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

Shortly after 3 p.m. MDT, a passerby noticed smoke emanating from a residence on the 300 block of Jessop Avenue, Hildale-Colorado City Fire Chief Kevin Barlow told St. George News.

When crews arrived, smoke was rising from the floor space between the first and second stories, Barlow said. The building was split into two units, with the residents of one apartment still inside, “apparently sleeping.” There were reportedly no injuries.

Once firefighters ensured the structure was empty, they began to work on the fire, which was burning in the wall space near an electrical panel, Barlow said.

While the damage was limited to two rooms, the worst was isolated near the electrical panel, displacing the residents until an electrician can replace it, Barlow said.

While it appears the panel was the source of the fire, the incident is still under investigation, he added.

The department was onsite 2-3 hours with three fire engines, two ladder trucks and 20 firefighters, Barlow said. The Hildale-Colorado City Police Department assisted as well.

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing smoke alarms monthly. Undated file photo | Public domain photo made available by U.S. Fire Administration website, St. George News

While Barlow doesn’t believe the incident resulted in a “teachable moment,” as it likely wasn’t due to human error, he said Southern Utahns should ensure they have working smoke alarms throughout their homes on every level.

“There were no smoke alarms in the house,” he said. “So, the occupants were not alerted until they smelled the smoke.”

Signs of electrical fire include a burning smell, smoke rising from sockets, walls or outlets that are warm or discolored and flickering lights or circuits tripping, St. George News reported previously.

An average of 46,700 house fires in the United States from 2015 to 2019 involved electrical failure or malfunction, causing an average of 390 civilian deaths and 1,330 injuries.

For more information on electrical fire risks and prevention, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website.

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

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