By Pat Reavy
The Deseret Morning News
MAGNA, Utah — When Becky Romero went outside and saw her neighbor’s house on fire, she looked around to try to find her 19-year-old son, who had run out the door ahead of her. When she couldn’t find him, she knew right away where he was: He had run into the burning house to try to help the people inside. “I knew he’d do that,” Romero said.
“I knew where he was.” Early Tuesday, Michael Romero, a certified EMT, kicked in the door of his neighbor’s house and helped three adult women, who were asleep, get out safely.
“If my house were on fire, I’d want someone to return that favor,” said Michael Romero, who has worked for Wendover Ambulance.
Investigators say the fire near 8600 West and 3400 South was intentionally set by the estranged husband of one of the female residents.
Travis Dominguez, 25, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated arson and burglary.
“It didn’t surprise us at all,” said Cassie Dominguez when she heard about who was arrested.
She has been going through a volatile divorce with her estranged husband for several months.
Several times Travis Dominguez threatened her, she said.
“He said there’s no way he’s going to sign these (divorce) papers,” Cassie Dominguez told the Deseret News.
Normally, there are also several children living in the house. But they were away Tuesday morning with another relative.
“We’re very grateful for that. They called this morning and they were devastated,” she said.
The fire, according to Dominguez, was set next to the children’s room, right outside the house, about 1:40 a.m.
Michael Romero was in his house next door when he heard loud popping noises, almost like gunshots.
But it wasn’t until he heard another neighbor scream that he knew something was really wrong.
“I heard a lady outside just scream bloody murder,” Romero said.
Several neighbors credit that woman, who was out walking her dog late at night, for getting other residents to call for help so quickly.
“She started screaming, ‘Call 911. Someone get help!’ To wake up to hear her screaming I knew there was a problem,” said Becky Romero, Michael’s mother.
When Michael Romero ran outside, he immediately saw an orange glow. He then saw flames at the top and bottom of the garage.
While dialing 911 on his cell phone and talking to emergency dispatchers, Romero pounded on his neighbor’s door.
“‘We need to go. We need to get out of here. How many people are in your house?’” he yelled at the residents.
The occupants also owned four dogs and two cats.
Romero said he had to hold one woman to prevent her from running back in for her pets.
When the first fire engine arrived, Romero helped by unloading a hose and dragging it to a fire hydrant.
All the pets were rescued from the house. Three dogs were found under the bed hiding after it was over.
The garage and all of its contents, including a car, several new bicycles and tools, were destroyed.
Half of the house was spared from fire damage thanks to a fast attack, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Clint Smith.
The Romero home also sustained damage. Part of the aluminum siding melted from the heat of the garage fire next door.
After witnesses gave a description of a man seen leaving the area shortly after the fire started, Dominguez said everyone in her house knew it matched the description of her estranged husband.
“When I heard a witness saw someone, I was sure who it was,” said Gayla Mumford.
Midvale police picked Travis Dominguez up at his house.
Even though he denied being responsible, detectives said they found clothes that matched what the person at the scene was wearing, and his car engine was warm, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
Cassie Dominguez said Travis Dominguez had been threatening her and playing “mind games” with her for months.
As for Michael Romero, he said it was only after he had a chance to sit down that he realized he had rushed into a burning house.
“A hero, no. A good neighbor, yes. Heroes wear capes and make millions of dollars and have ice castles,” he said, brushing off the notion that he, too, was a hero.