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TOOELE — When Jeff Fuell saw 40-foot flames roaring up behind his neighbors' home Tuesday night, he sprinted outside to start pounding on doors.

"Hearing it roar, screaming at you, creating its own wind, everything bearing down on you, it was just scary," he said. "I just wanted to get everyone out."

His brother-in-law, Dale Beckstead, was asleep on the couch just before 11 p.m. when he woke up to Fuell's banging and yelling. That's when he saw the flames licking the back of his house, smoke everywhere.

Beckstead made it to safety, but within minutes his entire home — where he had lived for 18 years — was engulfed in flames. He said all he could do was stand and watch it burn.

"How am I going to replace this?" he said, looking through the rubble, thinking of his late wife who died in 2004.

"Every picture I had of her is gone."

City and fire officials called the blaze one of the worst disasters Tooele has ever seen. Ten mobile and modular homes were destroyed and at least eight other homes suffered significant damage in the disastrous fire that began Tuesday night and quickly spread.

Investigators also believe the blaze was intentionally set.

"This event, I would say, is No. 1 in severity from what I've seen in my lifetime," said City Council Chairman Brad Pratt, who's lived in Tooele all his 60 years.

Pratt walked among the rubble with his fellow council members, Scott Wardle and Debbie Winn.

"This is major, and it's something that's very hard to see in a small community," he added.

Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News

Tooele Fire Chief Bucky Whitehouse, who has worked in the city's fire department for more than 17 years, called it "catastrophic" and "one of the biggest fires we've ever had."

"In my time, I've never seen anything like this," he said. "Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to the (families) to work their way through this."

Fuell, whose home was spared even though part of his front lawn was charred before firefighters could push the fire back, said he's grateful that his home survived, but hurt for his brother-in-law and his other neighbors.

"It's just really devastating," he said.

The Utah fire marshal is now investigating it as an arson, said Tooele police spokeswoman Tanya Turnbow, although she said she could not elaborate on what is leading police to believe the fire was intentionally set.

Some neighbors initially suspected fireworks were to blame but Turnbow said there is other evidence indicating it wasn't started from someone just lighting fireworks.

Wednesday evening, police asked for the public's help to locate Jesse Barger, 24, and said he "may have information related to (the) fire investigation." Police said he was believed to have been in the area at the time of the fires, but officers have been unable to locate him.

Anyone with information was asked to call police at 435-882-5600 or by texting TOOELETIP7101 plus a message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Tooele Police asked for the public's help in locating 24-year-old Jesse Barger, who may have information related to today's fire investigation. (Tooele Police)

The blaze started about 10:45 p.m. in a field near 700 South and 500 West. Between 20 and 25 homes were evacuated when the blaze broke out, fanned by strong winds estimated at 30 to 40 mph.

The fire burned only 6 acres in the field where it started. But the wind pushed it through a two-block area that contained about two dozen homes, between American Way and 900 West, and Van Dyke Way and Fleetwood Drive.

At least one resident estimated the flames reached heights of 80 feet to 100 feet.

"The wind was just devastating, pushing it, making it more intense. You're watching them try to put it out, and every time they try and go and spray it, the water would come right back. It looked like for a little bit, it wasn't even doing anything there," said one of the residents who was forced to leave his home.

At least three firefighters were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation and were later released. One resident was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation, Whitehouse said.

But later Wednesday, Becky Trigg, marketing director at Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele, said 10 people were treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation. She said she could not say how many were firefighters or first responders. One person was treated for a head injury from a fall and was transported to a Salt Lake hospital.

#TooeleFire@RedCross telling us they do not need any additional donations for food, water or clothing. Monetary donations are appreciated. — North Tooele Fire (@NTCFD) July 20, 2016

When the blaze erupted, roughly 50 residents were sent to nearby West Elementary School, 451 W. 300 South, for temporary shelter. There, they gathered in shock and uncertainty, not knowing if their homes had been destroyed or saved.

About 7 a.m., Whitehouse prepared them for what had become of their neighborhood.

"You will be going back to a bleak scene," he said.

In addition to the destroyed homes, about eight cars and at least five outbuildings were incinerated. Trees were charred, vinyl fences melted. Ash and scrap metal made up the unrecognizable remains of nearly the entire south side of the street.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Bryan Thatcher also met with residents who lost their homes Wednesday morning to give them the difficult news.

"One of toughest things I've ever had to do," he said.

Jake Arellano, who lived in one of the homes with his father, Albert, came back to their house to see what was left. He stared at the charred remains, shaking his head, his eyes bloodshot.

"I can't believe this happened," he said, his voice trembling. "I'm just glad everybody got out. But everything we had was here. We have insurance, of course, but that can't replace everything."

He grieved the loss of their family photos and "thousands of dollars" in musical instruments, including a guitar his grandfather had given him.

Approximately 100 firefighters from nine agencies assisted in battling the fire, which put a strain on the available water resources, according to officials. The fire was brought under control by 6 a.m. Wednesday. Crews continued to put out hot spots until midafternoon.

Pratt commended the city's fire department, which is made up of all volunteer firefighters, for "holding the fire line" and saving other homes in the neighborhood.

While there was devastating loss of property, he said he's grateful there was no loss of life.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime event," Pratt said. "It's extremely unfortunate, but we're grateful for (firefighters') expertise in protecting this community and keeping us safe."

The West Elementary School shelter was to remain open through Thursday. The American Red Cross also responded to help with food and supplies. Local businesses and residents not affected by the fire donated food, water and clothing to the fire department and the shelter Wednesday.

The Utah Association of Realtors donated $5,000 to the families who lost their homes, giving $500 to each of the 10 families.

Thatcher noted that arson could result in potential first-degree felony charges.

Contributing: Shara Park, Marc Giauque

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