May 01--JEROME -- A large structure fire resulted in almost 20 families unable to return to their homes after flames damaged several downtown buildings in Jerome on Tuesday.
The fire started at 126 West Main Street in Jerome around 4:30 p.m., said Jerome Fire Chief Jack Krill. After working for hours to put out the fire, flames were still active and jumping to adjoining buildings, including the Harvest Moon Cafe at 130 West Main Street and an office space at 132 West Main Street.
As of 9:20 p.m., Krill expected officials to remain on the scene throughout the night in an attempt to contain the fire.
Firefighters attempted to search the building, but the flames were too hot, Krill said. It is still unknown if anyone was in the building and the cause has yet to be determined, Krill said.
Firefighters battled strong winds blowing throughout the night, Krill said. For the first three hours, the wind made it unsafe to put firefighters in water towers. Along with slowing down suppression efforts, the wind pushed the smoke east on Main Street, causing officials to evacuate the surrounding eastern blocks, Krill said.
Later in the night, compounds from the smoke combusted and caused additional explosions to go off, said Zoe Monahan, spokeswoman for the city of Jerome.
Carol Garcia lives on the bottom floor of the apartment building. She had just gotten off work and was returning home when she saw her building on fire.
"I've lived there a year with my husband," she said. "It's stressful watching your home burn. I don't know where I'm going to sleep tonight or what I'm going to do."
Jose Gomez had lived in the building for almost nine years. He was working in Twin Falls when he got the call from a frantic family member to come home.
"It's been pretty emotional for my mom," he said. "It's hard watching your home burn. ... I'm not used to saying 'I lived there.'"
Jerome resident Emma Parks stood on the north side of the fire along with many of the building's former residents. She said she was shocked to see something like this in Jerome.
"I've never seen a fire this big in a town," she said.
Ryan Smallwood, who works as a cook for Harvest Moon Cafe, said he was one of the first people to report the fire.
He said one of the waiters said she could smell smoke and when they walked around to the front of the apartment complex, all they could see was smoke-filled windows.
"I put my hand on the window and it was warm," he said. "I immediately called 911."
The American Red Cross has set up a temporary shelter at the Jerome County Fairgrounds, Monahan said. As of Tuesday evening, it was still unknown how many people would need shelter or help .
Jerome city firefighters, Jerome Rural Fire Department and Jerome City Police responded to the scene. Wendell Rural Department, Shoshone Rural Department and Twin Falls City Fire were later called in to put out the flames, Monahan said.
"We would like to thank the jurisdictions for helping us with this fire," she said.
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