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Home a total loss after structure fire in Summit Park

Posted at 5:11 PM, Jan 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-27 23:17:47-05

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah -- Jared Gallardo was stunned when he looked outside and saw his neighbor's house on fire just before 4 p.m. Friday afternoon.

"I looked out my front window and saw the house engulfed in flames," Gallardo said.

When fire crews arrived ten minutes later, Chief Paul Hewitt with the Park City Fire District says the home was fully involved.

"It's a total loss," Hewitt said.

Into the night, crews battled the blaze while dealing with the barriers caused by freezing temperatures.

"We’ve got berms of snow here that are 7-feet tall, we have hydrants that are buried by the snow," Hewitt said.

However, Gallardo points out the silver lining of these conditions, which is the inevitable damage this fire could've caused in the summer months.

"A fire like that could’ve easily spread via the trees to many other houses around here," Gallardo said.

The family of three was out of town at the time and their two dogs are unaccounted for.

"Their two dogs were in the house," Gallardo said. "Wonderful, beautiful dogs. All their personal possessions. It's just awful."

The homeowners were out of town when the fire broke out, but returned Friday evening and are staying with family.

In addition to the dogs, the owners did have a cat at home, which apparently made it out safely.