By Marilyn Shelton

February 9, 2007 | PARADISE -- Fire destroyed a house at 945 S. 200 West St. around 11:30 p.m. Feb. 2.

The house belonged to Justin and Amanda Wilding. No one was injured in the fire, but there was extensive property damage.

Paradise Fire Chief Troy Frederickson said he thought the fire was caused by fumes from a piece of furniture that Justin Wilding had been lacquering.

"He was lacquering next to a woodburning stove. I guess the combination of the fumes and the heat is what caused the fire," Frederickson said.

Frederickson said the Paradise Fire Department was on the scene 10 minutes after being paged.

But 10 minutes is a long time in fire terms, he said.

"It doesn't take long for a fire to get going and really burn, really do some damage," he said.

He estimated damage to the house to be between $120,000 and $150,000.

"It was destroyed; there wasn't much left except for a little bit of metal structure standing," he said.

The house fire was determined by the Paradise Fire Department to be a "working structure fire," Frederickson said. In the case of a working structure fire, Frederickson said fire departments from Hyrum and Wellsville help the Paradise City Fire Department.

"We try to get as much manpower and equipment as we can in a fire like this," said Frederickson.

He said that the fire was quickly extinguished, but that the Paradise Fire Department stayed for several hours after to help clean up what was left.

Frederickson said the Wildings have moved in with their in-laws until they can find a new home.

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