Resident dies during fire
A Logan resident died of a self-inflicted gunshot during a large-scale fire which started in the morning and flared up again Sunday night.
Richard Hendricks, Logan Police chief, said Van Christensen, 51, shot himself in the head with a nine millimeter handgun. Though the fire in his house is still under investigation, there is indication Christensen started the fire, Hendricks said.
“Since the body was in the fire, it is hard [for medical examiners] to determine the exact time of death,” Hendricks said.
Joseph Bach, a paramedic with the Logan Fire Department, said two or three 911 calls came in during the morning reporting a house on fire at 600 E. and Boulevard. He believes the calls were placed by neighbors or local church members.
When the Logan Fire Department arrived at the house “the fire had a pretty good head start,” Bach said.
“Flames were coming out of the house and first floor windows,” he said.
Bach said the structure became unstable and a danger to the firefighters. He said the ground level floor dropped and the second floor caved in.
“We were lucky we didn’t lose any firefighters,” he said.
Bach said the fire took around two hours to extinguish, but rekindled a few hours later due to “hot spots” in the house.
“This house is basically gutted. Nothing will be salvageable,” Bach said.
In the morning, Bach said trying to find a fire hydrant near the house cost the firefighters some time. He said there were a few fire hydrants in the area, but they could hardly be seen because they were covered up with snow.
He said firefighters and other Logan agencies also struggled with the fire, because the snow was piled up high in the front and back of the house.
And because of the cold weather, he said, “You have to keep the hand [hose] lines running or they will freeze on you.”
Michael Edvalson, a paramedic with the Logan Fire Department, said the fire called for a large-scale effort of all Logan agencies including the Logan Police Department, City of Logan Water and Sewer Department, and City of Logan Light and Power Department.