SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 23, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Investigators have determined that a thee-alarm structure fire at 510 W. 200 North Monday night that caused $80,000 in damage was accidental.
Forty to 45 firefighters responded to the blaze at a commercial building containing multiple storage units after initial calls came in at approximately 8:35 p.m., SLC Fire Department spokesman Jasen Asay said.
Asay said three men were working on a car when the fire accidentally started. The workshop area is located in one of several storage units in a structure owned by the Missio Dei Community Church, located across the parking lot to the east.
One 34-year-old man was transported to the hospital with second-degree burns on both arms, or about 15 percent of his body. The other two men were evaluated on scene.
The vehicle and storage unit are a total loss, and investigators estimate that the fire caused $80,000 in damage. Two adjacent storage units suffered minor fire damage.
No firefighters were injured.
After crews arrived and were putting water on the fire, they realized gasoline was in the area, so HazMat and Salt Lake County Health Department personnel were called to the scene.
Plastic five-gallon containers of gasoline had melted in the heat, releasing the gas.
HazMat was called to bring foam, but ultimately the fire was contained and the foam wasn’t needed. HazMat and health department representatives stayed into the night to clean up the mixture of gas and water that remained in the storage unit.
Asay said there was no health threat from gas fumes.
