SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 30, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — At least 15 people were forced their homes and two firefighters were injured during an early morning apartment fire in Salt Lake City.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 1099 South West Temple just before 4 a.m. When they arrived they found the multi-story structure at the Jefferson School Apartments engulfed in flames.
Salt Lake City Fire Chief Ryan Mellor told Gephardt Daily first responders worked quickly to knock down the flames while making sure residents were evacuated.
Once the fire broke through the roof the crews were pulled back and went into “defensive mode” to keep the flames from spreading.
Two firefighters were injured when ceiling tiles fell on them in a second story apartment. Their injuries were described as minor.
Mellor said six of 12 apartments were heavily damaged in the two-alarm fire, but expected about half the residents would be allowed back in their apartments.
Fire investigators have yet to determine how and where the fire broke out.
Gephardt Daily will update the story as more information becomes available.
