WEST JORDAN — Fire investigators Thursday were trying to determine what caused a house to blow up and ignite into a fireball late Wednesday night.
Neighbors around the house near 2800 West and 7900 South were awakened about 11 p.m. Wednesday by an explosion that blew debris, including the garage door, across the street.
"It literally knocked me out of bed," said Jeff Larsen who lives next door to the house that caught fire.
Firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes, but it was already too late to save the house, West Jordan Battalion Chief Marc McElreath said.
"We received multiple calls from neighbors that heard an explosion. When we arrived, the house was fully involved," he said.
Two adults and two children were able to evacuate the house safely. Tammy Ringger, whose daughter plays with one of the girls who escaped, said she was watching a movie when the blast happened.
"I thought it was an earthquake. The house shook. Pictures fell off my wall. I was scared to death," she said. "The house was just gone in no time flat."
The family that escaped the burning house was taken to Jordan Valley Hospital to be checked for minor injuries and some smoke inhalation.
The home was destroyed. McElreath estimates the damage to be more than $100,000. Ringger's house was not damaged, but Larsen lost some siding on the exterior of his home. Inside, he said, a section of sheet rock was blown out by the blast.
The fire burned unusually fast, McElreath said. Investigators are trying to determine how the fire started, where in the house it started and what fueled it. After an 11-hour investigation, he said there were no indications the fire was intentionally set but that the occupants and witnesses were still being questioned.
Some neighbors reported seeing the fire start in the garage area. McElreath said investigators would be checking into what if any chemicals or fuels were stored in the garage and in what quantities.
Another possibility being looked at was whether gas somehow filled the house and was ignited by a pilot light, he said. The natural gas appliances of the home were eliminated as possible causes of the fire following the extensive investigation.
"We're not ruling out suspicious (activity as a cause); we're just not saying either way right now," McElreath said.
Neighbors said the most fortunate part of the incident was that no one was hurt. Ringger said that's what she tried to explain to her daughter's young friend who escaped the burning house.
"Everything can be replaced. You can't be replaced," she told the girl.
Contributing: Wendy Leonard
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com