Home a complete loss after fire in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS — A local home appears to be a complete loss after a fire in Idaho Falls Thursday night.
The fire broke out on the 2800 block of Agnes Street shortly before midnight, according to Idaho Falls Fire Department spokeswoman Jessica Clements. The department rushed to the scene and found the home engulfed in flames.
DoorDash driver Zachary Bush said he was out making a delivery in the area when he started smelling smoke. He described a haze in the air, leading him to put two and two together.
“I was like, oh my gosh, a house was burning,” Bush said. “I just saw freaking huge flames. They were just coming out the top of the garage. Just huge massive flames.”
Bush then dialed 911 when he said another bystander rushed in to help. Not knowing if anyone was inside, those outside the inferno began frantically looking before spotting a family standing on a sidewalk nearby.
After making sure everyone was okay, Bush said he still got the food delivered on time. He then returned to allow the family to warm up inside his car.
“It’s hard in a situation like that,” Bush said. “What do you say as we’re watching the house go up in flames?”
Eventually, firefighters got the blaze under control shortly after 1 a.m. and saved some of the family’s animals.
“The fire appears to have started in the garage before moving to the attic and rapidly through other areas of the home,” according to an IFFD news release. “The home experienced significant damage and appears to be a complete loss with estimated damages of $400,000.”
The Idaho Falls Police Department, Citizens Watch and Chaplains from the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Idaho helped with traffic control, evacuation of neighboring homes and family support.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“I’ll never experience something like this during a DoorDash delivery again,” Bush said.