SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, June 5, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — A rooftop fire prompted inmate evacuations Thursday morning at the Salt Lake County Jail.
According to South Salt Lake Fire Chief Terry Addison, crews were dispatched to the jail at 10:35 a.m. after reports of smoke coming from an area near an air-conditioning system that was undergoing maintenance.
“The fire did not breach the structure,” Addison said. “It was located between the membrane and insulation. Crews had to peel back that membrane and remove burning insulation to ensure the fire didn’t spread further.”
The fire was extinguished quickly, and fans were set up to clear smoke and any lingering fumes before staff and inmates were allowed to return to affected areas, Addison said.
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said she was initially alarmed by the incident
"I'll tell you, as a mayor, when you get the phone call that there's an incident, wherever it may be, your heart races a little... I was reassured... that we didn't have extensive harm to our inmates, which, of course, is always our first concern..."
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said approximately 200 inmates were temporarily relocated within the jail due to the damaged HVAC unit, but none had to be moved off-site.
Rivera said the facility entered a temporary lockdown in response to the incident, a standard safety measure during any critical event. The lockdown was lifted once the area was deemed safe.
Water damage from fire suppression efforts and smoke infiltration through the ventilation system was reported, but the structural impact was minimal. Crews are working to repair the damaged HVAC unit, and that section of the jail will remain closed until repairs are complete, Rivera said.
