Girl Dies in UT Fire; Firefighters Reportedly Unaware She Was in Home

Hoses running from a fire truck

An 11-year-old girl who was reportedly left home alone was killed in a house fire Sunday in Carbon County, Utah, according to reports.

The Wellington (UT) Fire Department reported on its Facebook page that at 1:47a.m., the department was called to assist East Carbon Fire Department with a structure fire on Carson Street.

Wellington responded with an engine and was advised while en route that the home was fully involved with heavy flame and smoke showing. Upon arrival at 2:11 a.m., responding Wellington units found heavy smoke and fire and East Carbon firefighters engaged in an exterior attack. During these efforts, firefighters were notified there was possibly a child still inside. A rescue operation was immediately enacted, but due to the extreme heat and smoke inside the home, command relayed to the rescue team this was likely a recovery operation. Within minutes of entering the home through the bedroom window of the trapped occupant, the victim was located and removed and loaded into a waiting ambulance and transported, but she did not survive.

According to KSL News, police officers say East Carbon firefighters had been told by neighbors that the household car had departed “around 10:00 p.m. that evening. And we know what cars they drive. Both of their cars were gone from the household.” This led firefighters to believe the family was not there, the report said.

The report noted that no charges will be pressed against the parents of the victim.

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