Fatal West Valley City Fire

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5-year-old dies in West Valley house fireBy Lana Groves

Deseret News

WEST VALLEY CITY — A 5-year-old girl died in a house fire Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters received a call about 4:25 p.m. of a fire at 4544 S. Early Duke Drive (5080 West). When crews arrived, flames were coming out of the upper windows of the home, said West Valley Fire Chief John Evans.

Two adults and three children were able to escape the blaze, but told firefighters the young girl was still inside.

By the time crews were able to reach the upper floor of the house, they discovered the girl's body in an upstairs bedroom.

"It's a tragedy. West Valley City's heart goes out to the family," Evans said, adding that the family was devastated by the news.

Damage from the fire was contained primarily to the upper floor of the home and was estimated at $150,000. Investigators aren't yet sure what caused the fire.

In what seems to be a sad coincidence, a neighbor said the same house caught on fire about seven years ago. That neighbor also says the family was in the middle of adding on to the home and doing some construction on the outside.

More details will be posted as they become available.