Utah-Orem City Structure Fire

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Orem fire

DAILY HERALD

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Heidi Toth


Five people were woken up by the fire alarm in their house Friday afternoon as flames consumed the roof.

T. Tangata Niumeitolu said he, his wife and their three grandchildren were napping when his wife, Litia, heard the fire alarm and woke everyone else up.
All five got out of the house safely, although fire officials say damage to the house is extensive.

"There were no flames visible, just smoke on the ceiling," Niumeitolu said, standing in the neighbor's yard in his socks.

Capt. Craig Liddiard said firefighters were dispatched about 5:30 p.m. to the house in northwest Orem. All three Orem fire stations were at the scene, which was blocked off by eight emergency vehicles.

Liddiard said the fire started in the back of the house and spread into the attic. Two crews went into the house, one through the front and one through the back, extinguishing the fire in about 15 minutes before it spread beyond the attic.

He estimated the damage to be about $80,000 and said the roof would probably have to be replaced. The interior of the house did not sustain much damage.

One of the biggest concerns was keeping the firefighters hydrated and away from any heat-related problems, since the temperature Friday afternoon was in the high-90s.

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Photo of above fire