SPRINGVILLE, Utah — Two first responders remain in the hospital Friday night after two others were released. Five Springville firefighters and police officers were hurt during a house fire in remote Utah County.
The fire started several miles up Hobble Creek Canyon while the family was sleeping.
More than 15 hours later, the 7,000 square foot mountain home still smoldered. Springville firefighters closely watched over what’s left, knowing the 911 call was close to killing five first responders.
“Things just went south very, very quickly,” Springville Police Chief Craig Martinez.
Cell phone video shows police officers breaking windows to get to three firefighters trapped inside the burning home. A side door was blocked by snow.
Part of the roof collapsed on the firefighters while they were getting out. One of the firefighter’s legs was trapped under debris. Another was hit in the head and suffered a concussion.
Chief Martinez said two of his officers went inside the burning house without any protective gear to rescue the men.
A firefighter and police officer were both flown by medical helicopter to a hospital. Three others were taken to get checked out. Chief Martinez said he’s proud of his staff’s actions this morning.
"For the way this played out, this is the best case scenario. Everybody is going to go home,” Chief Martinez said.
The fire is believed to have started in the attic. The people inside the home when the fire started got out safely.
