WASHINGTON TERRACE, Utah — One of two people injured in the wildfire that burned near several Washington Terrace homes on Monday has died.
Cecil "Ted" Burrell was originally transported to the hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries, according to his son Bryan. However, after arriving at the hospital, Bryan learned his father's injuries were more severe, and he died at 7 p.m. Monday.
The 87-year-old Burrell lived in the home that received minor damage in the fire, including a camper trailer.
Burrell's death is the first fatality known to be connected to a wildfire in Utah this year. Four firefighters lost their lives battling the Knowles Fire on the Colorado side of the Utah-Colorado border last month.
“They said he went back in… and the doors locked behind him," explained Robert Lindley, who also lived in the home. "For some reason, he came out to that patio and the door locked behind him, and he was trapped.”
Lindley said he nearly got trapped himself and felt the heat from the flames. He tried going back into the house to find Burrell, pounding on the door and yelling. When firefighters arrived, they broke through the door and carried Burrell out of the house.
Washington Terrace residents return home after wildfire posed threats:
According to Lindley, Burrell's clothes were burned, but he thought his roommate looked fine. But as he followed Burrell to the hospital, he watched as the injuries from his burns worsened.
Lindley was in the room when a doctor arrived to discuss the injuries Burrell had suffered and that the prognosis was not good.
“And we both said no… no, there’s got to be some other way. And there wasn’t," Burrell shared. "He died five hours later.”
A neighbor described Burrell as someone who kept to himself but was always kind.
“He was just a good person… who just wanted to live his life and enjoy the later years of his life," said Scott Tomlinson. “That’s a tough deal. Structures you can rebuild… but life, you can’t rebuild.”
A Weber County Sheriff's Office deputy was also injured during the fire, but was quickly treated and released.
The Adams Fire grew to 45 acres and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes, although only one suffered minor damage. Several people were seen using garden hoses to protect their homes from the flames.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
