fire destroyed three homes and damaged two others - Herrriman, Utah

HERRIMAN — A fast-moving 10-alarm fire destroyed three homes and damaged two others — in addition to multiple other structures including garages and barns — Friday, prompting officials to issue a mandatory evacuation.

While officials of the Rose Crest Fire said their hearts went out to the families who lost homes and property, the results could have been much worse.

"I thought we were going to lose upwards to 100 (homes) or so," said Unified Fire Chief Michael Jensen.

The fire, which began about 3:30 p.m., had grown to 350 acres in less than five hours, fire officials said. The burned acres were mostly along the ridgeline.

This is the second time within two years that Herriman residents have been forced from their homes by fire. Utah National Guardsmen were doing a routine machine gun training exercise at Camp Williams Sept. 19, 2010, when wind turned a small grass fire into an inferno that climbed over a hill into the residential area that borders the camp to the north.

The fire ultimately consumed more than 4,300 acres, destroyed three homes and damaged many others. More than 1,600 residents were evacuated during that blaze.

The big difference between that fire and Friday's Rose Crest Fire is that officials knew in 2010 that the fire was coming heading their way over the mountain.

"This happened right in the middle of a developed area," Jensen said.

"It's not the size of the fire, it's the location," added Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

Herbert praised the work of firefighters Friday night, calling their work to save homes a "significantly remarkable effort."

"I'm just in awe of the good work they've done," he said. "We've got the best in the business here fighting fires."

Cause of fire

Officials believe the fire, which is being called accidental, started after someone parked their hot car in an area of tall, dry grass. That car owner's house was not one of the three destroyed, however, Jensen said.

"Car parked over dry grass plus hot muffler equals Rose Crest Fire," Herriman City Councilman Mike Day said in a tweet Friday night.

An emotional Carrie Choquette confirmed that she saw the fire begin across the street from her house, next to a vehicle.

source: desert news