ROY -- A propane heater is believed to have caused a Thursday morning fire that damaged a Roy home.
Firefighters from Roy, Clinton and Riverdale responded to reports of heavy smoke and flames at 5843 S. 2575 West around 11:30 a.m. When officials arrived, they were able to contain the fire to mostly the garage.
Don Hammond says he was going to work on the transmission of his SUV and was using a propane heater to warm the garage.
When he left for a moment to get a drink, combustible materials that were close to the heater caught fire, said Fire Capt. Jon Ritchie.
Hammond noticed heavy smoke coming from the garage and left the house. Nobody else was home.
"It was thick in there when I left," Hammond said. "I couldn't see the front door."
One ladder and four engines used the street and a church parking lot across the street to set up and firefighters were able to put the fire out quickly.
Ritchie said the SUV and much of the garage are destroyed, but other than minor smoke damage, the house is habitable and it doesn't appear anyone will be displaced.
The home belongs to Hammond's mother. Shirley Hammond was out doing volunteer work at the time and rushed home when she heard her son was inside.
"I was just hoping he was OK," she said. "As long as he's OK, that's all that matters to me."
Comments