The small town of Tabiona lost one of its residents in a house fire Thursday. According to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office, flames engulfed the home of 66-year-old Rickey Evin Wilberg early
Thursday morning
. Firefighters responded but tragically Wilberg did not get out and his body was recovered
Thursday afternoon
. “A driver on nearby state Road 35 spotted smoke and flames coming from the house just before
8 a.m.
and called Central Dispatch,” shares the Sheriff’s Office. “Duchesne County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Monty Nay, who lives three miles from Wilberg’s house, was the first deputy on scene. As Tabiona firefighters began trying to put out the fire at the front of the house, Nay said he tried to enter the house through a back door in an effort to find Wilberg. Thick smoke, however, prevented him from making it into the house.” Both the Duchesne and Fruitland Fire Departments responded to the call, working with Tabiona firefighters to extinguish the flames. Damage estimates are not currently available and the cause has not been determined. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating. Wilberg’s body has been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
