Park City firefighters battle challenging blaze at home in Upper Deer Valley

Park City Fire District. Photo: Courtesy of Park City Fire District.

An outside observer alerted the homeowner to flames visible from the exterior, prompting evacuation of the house.

PARK CITY, Utah — A house fire in Upper Deer Valley has left its residents displaced and local fire officials investigating the cause. The Park City Fire Department (PCFD) responded to the blaze yesterday afternoon at the house along Deer Valley Drive.

Battalion Chief Mike Owens of the PCFD reported that the fire had already progressed significantly when crews arrived.

The homeowner and her friends were in the house when the fire broke out, but weren’t aware of it. “They were alerted by someone who was outside the house that the house was on fire, and they got out,” Owens stated, confirming that no injuries were reported.

Firefighters faced challenges due to the house’s construction. “The way the house was built made fighting the fire difficult,” Owens explained.

The fire’s origin is still under investigation, but Owens indicated a potential starting point in the utility room, however, he stated that, “The jury’s still out on a few things. There’s still information that I need to gather.”

Despite the home’s location, the surrounding area was not threatened. Owens noted, “[The homeowner] had a really great defensible space that was set up and would have protected the Deer Valley side. The trees around it were mostly Aspen. So there wasn’t a large concern of those catching on fire.”

PCFD crews worked extensively to combat the blaze. “It took crews some time to find the fire that was in the attic space— but then there was still fire that was smoldering in the attic spaces that would keep flaring up. And that’s what they were having a hard time getting to,” Owens said. He praised the firefighters’ efforts, saying, “Crews did an amazing job. They were there a long time, and those poor guys were so beat up.”

The extent of the damage has left the residents unable to return. “They’re displaced — they’re not going to be able to live in that house for quite some time,” Owens confirmed. “As a firefighter, fighting a fire is what we’re trained to do, but when we have to do that, it means someone’s having a really bad day. So there’s a lot of compassion that goes out to the homeowners. They’ve lost their house — they’ve lost their stuff— It’s a rough, rough situation for them to be in.”

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with more details to be released as they become available.