Massive Fire Engulfs Apartment : A massive fire broke out in Lehi, Utah, engulfing an apartment complex under construction near the Point of the Mountain. The incident, which occurred just after 10:15 a.m. on a Sunday morning, quickly drew emergency response from 28 units across Salt Lake and Utah Counties. About 100 firefighters from Draper to Orem rushed to the scene to battle the flames, which had spread to multiple buildings in the area. The fire was so intense that officials estimated approximately 30,000 gallons of water were used per minute for up to two hours to contain it.
The Fire Incident
Residents in the area were shocked by the sudden appearance of a huge plume of smoke. Noah Clark, a Lehi resident, described the moment: “We were driving on 2100 North and just suddenly looked to our right, and there was this huge plume of smoke.” The fire quickly became a major emergency, with firefighters working tirelessly to control the blaze. The situation was complicated by the risk of collapsing cranes and partially constructed buildings, which made it difficult for crews to access certain areas safely.
Containment and Aftermath
Lehi City officials announced that the fire was contained by 12:30 p.m., but smoke continued to linger above the complex as firefighters worked to extinguish hot spots. The majority of a four-story structure collapsed after the fire was brought under control. Fire Chief Jeremy Craft explained that the cranes and remaining parts of the structure were still unstable, making it risky for firefighters to enter certain areas. “We have a couple cranes that got a lot of heat damage, and so we’re having a hard time putting our people in there because we don’t believe those cranes are stable,” Craft said. “There’s no life safety issue right now, so we’re not going to create one with our own people. So that might hinder what we do and how fast we do it.”
Investigation and Damage Assessment
- Multiple investigators were present at the scene, but they had to wait for the area to be
- deemed safe before beginning their work. Fire Chief Craft noted that it could be several
- days before investigators start combing through the rubble to determine the cause and
- point of origin. Arson dogs may be brought in to check for accelerants. “This is an interesting fire,”
- Craft said. “It’s going to take us a while to figure it out.” Because the buildings were at
- different stages of completion, officials could not immediately estimate the cost of the
- damage. Investigators will work with the property owner to determine the final figure.
Community Impact and Safety
- Residents and motorists were advised to avoid the north end of Traverse Mountain,
- including Flight Park Road and nearby walking trails, until further notice. Frontage Road,
- however, remained open. Fire Chief Craft said that residents should expect to see smoke in
- the area for the rest of the day. “My wife initially was concerned that the fire might spread,”
- Clark said. “I wasn’t too concerned because it looked like just the apartment
- complex was on fire, so I didn’t think it would really spread anywhere.”
The massive fire near Point of the Mountain in Lehi was a significant event that tested the emergency response capabilities of local authorities. The quick action of firefighters prevented further loss of life, but the damage to the construction site was extensive. The investigation into the cause of the fire will continue for several days, and the community is advised to remain cautious and follow official guidance.
