Firefighters battle work shed blaze in rural area of Iron County – St George News

2022-03-12 05:58:42 By : Mr. Thomas Peng

CEDAR CITY — Firefighters extinguished a structure fire Thursday evening in an unincorporated area of Iron County northwest of Enoch.

Cedar City Fire Capt. Lowell Sorensen said the fire was reported at 5:50 p.m. on a property near the corner of 5600 North and 4100 West.

“What was burning was a small wood constructed shed,” Sorensen told Cedar City News, adding that the structure was likely being used as some type of workshop. It did not have running water nor a bathroom, although it did have a wood-burning stove as a heating source, he said.

“The fire was within the ceiling area and was mainly contained to between the ceiling and the roof,” Sorensen added. 

“There was kind of some foam insulation in the ceiling there and the fire was basically just burning in that foam insulation,” he said. “It was really challenging to get the water where it was effective.”

A total of 18 personnel from the Cedar City Fire Department responded to the incident, including two fire engine crews and the personnel assigned to two wildland brush trucks and a command vehicle. An Iron County Sheriff’s deputy also responded.

“It did present us with a few challenges because it was a really well-built, strong building,” Sorensen added. “It was a little hard to open it up to where we could get the water in where it was burning.”

Adding to the firefighters’ difficulties were temperatures in the low 20s and a brisk wind.

“It was really cold out there with that north wind blowing, but we were able to keep everything from freezing up on the trucks,” Sorensen said. 

“But these guys just jumped right in there and took care of it, even though it was a challenge,” he added. 

Sorensen said the battalion chief gave a preliminary damage estimate of around $10,000, adding that the structure and at least some of its contents are likely salvageable.

“I wouldn’t call it a total loss but probably 30% to 50% damage,” he said.

The scene was cleared just before 8 p.m., approximately two hours after the fire started, Sorensen said.

Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City Fire Department firefighters at the scene of a structure fire near 5600 North and 4100 West, Iron County, Utah, March 10, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have two young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

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