ST. GEORGE — A Washington City family faced many pet owner’s worst nightmare after a Sunday morning fire.
After receiving the call shortly before 10:30 a.m., firefighters were on the scene at 925 S. 1775 E. within about four minutes. It took approximately three minutes to control the fire and stop it from spreading, Washington City Fire Department Capt. Julio Reyes told St. George News.
The cause of the fire is undetermined, Reyes said, but it appears to have started near the home, damaging a propane tank for a barbecue, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, a truck and a fifth-wheel trailer.
“Motorhomes in general and fifth-wheels and camp trailers are made of a light wood so that they travel down the highway better,” he said. “They’re safer that way, but because it’s a light wood, it makes it so it burns a lot faster.”
The house itself was reportedly spared due to the quick response.
“They immediately started putting water on the fifth-wheel, where they could, but also their main priority right away was to protect the house that was nearby,” Reyes said. “And my understanding is there was no damage to that house at all because of the way they fought that fire.”
Reyes said that neither the family nor responders sustained any injuries.
“When we first were notified, we weren’t sure who was all accounted for,” he said. “We knew there was a small family with two children that lived there. But right as our crews were arriving, we didn’t have everybody accounted for. But that’s when they were notified that they got two pets — at least two dogs, maybe more, and they weren’t sure where two of them were.”
Crews later determined that two dogs died in the fire, Reyes said, adding, “When you know it’s somebody’s loved one, it’s hard.”
Three fire engines and one ladder truck were dispatched to the home, hailing from the St. George Fire Department and Washington City, including the Coral Canyon station, which also houses some personnel from the Hurricane Valley Fire District.
St. George Fire crews were conducting physical training when they saw the fire and self-dispatched to assist, Reyes said. Gold Cross and the Washington City Police Department also responded to the call.
In case of a similar emergency, Reyes said Southern Utahns should avoid storing belongings, especially those that are flammable, near the home to ensure there are clear paths for crews to access potential fires.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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