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Man speaks after jumping from window to escape WVC apartment fire

Posted at 4:29 PM, Apr 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-22 23:51:16-04

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - A fire at an apartment complex in West Valley City left 28 people without a home, Wednesday.

It started in a building at 4500 S. Dean Drive, destroying all four apartments on the property.

"I go to walk down the stairs, and I just feel this heat," said Linda Martinez and her son.

While Martinez was safely evacuated, her husband and grandson were trapped inside a second floor bedroom.

"I thought I was going to die," said Martinez's husband.

He instructed his son, who had come back to help, to jump out of the bedroom window with Martinez's grandson.  The landing left Martinez's husband with some scrapes and bruises, but likely saved his life.

"I was just thinking of my family, my wife," he said.

It is not clear at this point whether the fire was intentional or accidental, according to West Valley City Fire Department.

Initially, one person was taken into custody for questioning about the fire, but they were later released.

The Red Cross setup a shelter at a nearby LDS Stake Ward, where tenants were provided with food and a place to stay.

According to authorities, the cause remains under investigation.