AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Nov. 18, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — An American Fork honey business is asking for help rebuilding after a fire that destroyed this year’s honey harvest and the equipment used to extract honey from honeycombs.
What became Beehive State Honey started more than 140 years ago “when my great-great-great-grandfather Benjamin (Benji) ordered 100 beehives in the back of a horse drawn wagon,” says the website for the business, currently run by fifth generation beekeeper Prenten Frazier.
“At $4 per hive, it was a small fortune. Upon arrival, most had been smothered by the long hot journey. There were no Amazon refunds back then.”
Frazier wants to rebuild the facility, most of which was destroyed by a fire Sunday morning. Crews were dispatched shortly after 4 a.m. to the area of 7500 N. 6500 West, American Fork, Gephardt Daily reported. Arriving crews called for additional help due to the intensity of the fire and its proximity to nearby homes.
A Gephardt Daily crew arrived on scene about 4:30 a.m. and recorded a column of smoke and flames coming from Beehive State Honey. Multiple firefighters were stung as they battled the blaze, which involved crews from Lone Peak, Lehi, Pleasant Grove, and Provo Fire Departments. Two firefighters suffered other minor injuries, according to reports by fire officials.
Frazier, a fifth generation beekeeper, thanked those who have supported the raw-honey business over the years.
“I hope we can bounce back, somehow,” he wrote in a GoFundMe account.
“Beekeeping and pollination is a vital local community service but not a really lucrative business model, as you know.
“We mostly really loved being able to provide a top-quality product that people loved. It wasn’t just a business, it was our identity. I just can’t imagine not doing it.”
See the Utah State Honey website to learn more about the business and products. To check out the GoFundMe account, click here.
And to see more photos from the fire, click on the photos below.
