WEST JORDAN, Utah — Two homes in West Jordan were destroyed by a fire that started Sunday afternoon.
The plume of smoke from the fire at 5905 W. Jackling Way could be seen all the way in Salt Lake City as both homes went up in flames.
The fire started at 5:45 p.m., and police said everyone was able to get out of the homes safely.
“There were actually two homes on fire, multiple vehicles on fire, even a travel trailer, all burning at the same time,” said West Jordan Deputy Fire Chief Chris Trevino.
Trevino said bystanders leapt into action to rescue a pair of pets.
“These teenage boys went, kicked in the door to find two dogs that they rescued prior to our arrival,” he said.
One of those teens was Carter Jacobson. He was visiting his friend’s house when they saw the plume of smoke. He said it felt like a movie.
“Probably just adrenaline,” Jacobson said. “We kicked down the door like I saw in the movies and ran in and grabbed the two dogs.”
His friend Gabriel Hernandez was with him.
“I rushed to the bathroom, opened the door, propane tank explodes and I immediately shut the door because it starts spreading through the bathroom,” Hernandez said. "Then we ran over to where they were hiding at, which is over by the laundry room."
They weren't the only ones who stepped in. Jennifer Joy Stamper was next door when it happened.
“I saw the flames coming up out of the house. Ran to the backyard, my neighbor Jerry and my other neighbor, we all grabbed hoses and started trying to spray down the back of their yard,” Stamper said.
Trevino said it was moving to see the community come together.
“We appreciate the sense of community that exists in this neighborhood. We would always tell you not to ever put yourself in harm's way,” Trevino said.
Residents who were in the two houses that were significantly damaged will be displaced, and the American Red Cross will be assisting.
FOX 13 News spoke to a neighbor who grabbed a garden hose to help put the fire out, but was unable to do much as the fire got bigger.
While the fires are currently out, it's not known what caused them, and Unified Fire is on the scene as an investigation gets underway.
