MILLCREEK, Utah, May 5, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — More than 80 firefighters battled a three-alarm, two-building blaze Thursday afternoon at the Monaco Apartments in Millcreek.
Two buildings with 12 apartments each were evacuated, as were adjacent apartment buildings in the complex. The Monaco Apartments are at 4115 S. 430 East.
“Right now we’re at a three-alarm response,” said David Ulibarri, information officer for the Unified Fire Authority, at about 4 p.m. The fire was reported just before 3 p.m.
“We have two separate buildings right now that have active fire…. We have approximately 85 personnel on the scene, our fire investigators on the scene, and once we can get the fire put out we can get our personnel inside and sort out what happened.”
Resident Sherry Chaffin also would like to know what happened.
“I was just laying there, kind of sleeping, and I just heard a boom,” said Chaffin, who suffers with asthma. “I didn’t think anything, then all of a sudden I smelled smoke come throughout my house. And I came out, and it’s just gutted all over there. I hope everybody’s OK.”
The Unified Fire Authority would reveal hours later that the fire was accidental, and started on a third-floor balcony of the building to the west before spreading to the building to the east.
Yousif Altimimi has lived in his unit for about 10 months, he said Thursday afternoon, as the fire still burned.
“I was working inside my apartment until I heard people knocking on the door, telling us to evacuate,” Altimimi said. “(Next) thing I know I am standing right here, waiting for the firefighters to finish the job.
“To be honest with you, I thought the firefighters could control it really quick, but it seems it took longer than I expected,” he said.
Alitimimi already was bracing himself for the loss.
“The only thing I care about in the apartment are … my many documents that are valuable that cannot be replaced,” he said. “I really don’t care about the furniture and other stuff. Just the things I won’t be able to replace.”
Altimimi kept an eye on his apartment door.
“I’ve seen the smoke coming out from my apartment,” he said. “So I’m assuming if it didn’t catch fire, then it’s definitely smoke damage.”
No serious injuries have been reported. At least one woman was treated for smoke inhalation. Eastbound traffic is blocked, and drivers are asked to avoid 500 East between 3900 South and 4500 South.
Ulibarri said the units were occupied by a mix of families and single renters. The Red Cross was on the scene to help those in need, and reported that at least 50 people have been displaced.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
“We are still in active firefighting mode right now,” Ulibarri said. “Right now, we are just going to get the fire out and do an overhaul of the building, and make sure no fire is hiding in the walls. They we will get our investigating team in there and they’ll start doing their thing.”
The fire filled the sky with smoke.
“It’s a big, large structure fire with a lot of wood and upholstery and appliances and all kinds of things,” Ulibarri said. “That puts out a lot of smoke.”
