Roy firefighter who rescued gifts has been Christmas hero before
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
Roy City firefighters extinguish the remains of a house fire that consumed a family's garage and pickup truck Monday night, Dec. 22, 2014.
ROY — When Colin Ward ran out of a burning home bearing gifts late Monday night, it wasn’t his first time salvaging the Christmas of a family devastated by a house fire.
The Roy firefighter knew what he had to do because of an experience with another family three or four years ago, he said, who thanked him profusely for saving their presents.
“They were extremely thankful. The reaction of that family really makes an impact on you,” Ward said.
Wednesday, Ward was with fellow firefighter Ryan Law on the main floor of a blazing Roy home at 3421 W. 5850 South when he spotted the presents sitting undamaged under the family’s Christmas tree. The fire would end up wrecking the house completely, but Ward wanted to salvage what he could.
“I just thought, this would give the kids so much joy,” to get their presents back, Ward said.
He radioed the fire official in charge of the scene for permission to remove the gifts and was given the green light. Ward and Law retrieved the presents from the living room, where a couch was up in flames and a flat-screen TV was quickly melting on the wall.
“I thought it’d be a huge thing for them. It’s such a tragic situation, so if there’s anything we can do for a family to make it better, we try to,” Ward said.
Ward also spotted the family’s “Elf on a Shelf” lying on the floor close to the flames and brought it with him. His own children’s emotional connection to that popular elf is the reason the ornament immediately caught his eye.
“(Elves on a shelf) are literally part of my family during the holidays,” Ward quipped. “They have names and everything.”
“They love their elves,” Ward said of his children. “It’s almost like they’re a part of my family … during the holidays.”
The toy elf may at least provide some emotional comfort and attachment for the children so drastically affected by Wednesday’s fire, Ward said.
“Hopefully it made an impact for them.”
The home’s residents were away at a party during the fire, which is believed to have been ignited in the garage. Their current living arrangements are unknown. The cause of the blaze, which spread to the upper level and shot flames 20 to 30 feet high, is still unknown.
Contact reporter Ben Lockhart at 801-625-4221 or blockhart@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at @SE_Lockhart. Like his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/blockhartSE.