This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Water overflowing from a canal in West Jordan came dangerously close to flooding homes on Wednesday morning, but officials say sandbags and debris removal helped minimize damage.
West Jordan Battalion Chief Duane Paxton said Wednesday that crews were called to a home at 9300 S. Betty Drive, near 4000 West, just before 5 a.m. after a homeowner was awakened by a newspaper deliverer who told her water was flooding her yard.
Paxton said a nearby canal had overflowed because of debris buildup, and began flooding the homeowner's street. Water came about an inch away from the woman's back door before she was able to place sandbags around her house to keep the water at bay.
"This has happened before," Paxton said, adding that the homeowner had sandbags on hand because of her previous experience.
Twelve workers from the fire department and West Jordan Water Department began clearing debris, which helped to lower water levels.
Paxton said they believe it was this buildup of debris, not Tuesday's windstorm, that was to blame.
"It wasn't just the storm yesterday," he said. "I'm sure that's what pushed it over the edge, but there was a lot of debris. We're talking 20-25 feet long of tumbleweeds [in the canal.]"
Paxton said no other homes were threatened or damage by the water.
Twitter: @jm_miller