SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 2, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Police and fire department personnel were at the scene of a house fire Thursday at 934 S. 500 East. They believe the fire was intentionally set late Thursday afternoon.
According to Salt Lake City Police Department, the fire was brought under control, but at about 5:30 p.m., they closed 500 East in both directions from 900 South to 1000 South because a man, believed to be suicidal, was on the roof of the structure, throwing bricks at first responders.
He later used his shirt to hang himself, but was cut free by fire personnel and brought down from the roof. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
SLCPD Detective Cody Lougy told Gephardt Daily the initial call to dispatch came in at about 3:40 p.m., when police were notified of someone walking in traffic on the roadway.
“This call started at about 2100 South and 700 East,” Lougy said. “Additional calls came in placing the individual further north. About 20 minutes after that, we got a call of a house fire.”
The house is divided into five apartments. Lougy said the man who was on the roof does not live in the house, and none of the residents know him. The man broke into the house and then into the upstairs apartment, where he started a fire in the kitchen.
“He gained access to the roof from inside the residence. Once he started the fire, he went on the rooftop,” Lougy said.
Lougy said a crisis team was on scene, trying to talk the man off the rooftop, but it was a dangerous situation in that he kept throwing chimney bricks at everyone. He added that police didn’t know if the man had weapons, such as a gun or knife, so they were being cautious.
Police believe this man is the same individual who was reported walking in traffic earlier.
Lougy said the incident at the house began at about 4:30 p.m. and negotiators spent three hours trying to talk the man off the roof.
“Unfortunately, he stripped down to his underwear and used his shirt to hang himself,” Lougy said. “As soon as he did that, our fire department moved into position and cut him down, cut the shirt off from around his neck.”
“We were hoping the colder temperatures would set in and he’d come down. Several ladders were placed so he could climb down. He tried to push over the chimney at one point. Police gave him a phone so they could communicate that way, and he smashed it with a brick.”
Lougy said the man had indicated that he had used methamphetamine during the day.
“We don’t know if it’s a mental illness that’s at the root of this, or if it’s the drugs. Investigators will have to determine that.”
He said the man started four different fires inside the building, and investigators estimate the damage at $50,000.
Only one person was in the home when the fires started, and no one was injured. The Red Cross was on scene to assist the residents as needed.
Joshua Stephano, who lives in the top half of the house told Gephardt Daily he doesn’t know the man who was on the roof and learned about the situation when his roommate called him.
He said of the incident, “It was indescribable. I just thought it was crazy. You never think that this is going to happen to you while you’re at school, then you come home from school and your house is completely burned down.”
Stephano attends Westminster College, where he studies finance and economics.
He said the police “basically told us to hang out and see what our options are in terms of reclaiming any of our belongings. That’s about it.”
Stephano was holding his guitar as he spoke, and explained, “This was the only thing that was thrown out the window that lasted through the fire. I guess the man went into my room, and yeah, this is all I have to my name now. I don’t know why he chose the guitar.”
Regarding the extent of the fire damage, Stephano said, “At this point, they’re not really telling us much, but if you look though the window, everything you see is black. That’s on the second level. It looks black. I don’t see anything I could reclaim. I’m really hoping that our bedrooms are OK, that they put the fire out before then.
“I’m worried that the brand new bed I got, and some clothing — I mean just basic necessities to move on from here would be nice. But I don’t know.”
At one point, the man on the roof was shouting that he was kicked out of the shelter and is protesting. When asked about that, Stephano replied, “I think that’s unfortunate. I don’t know the details, but I do know that Utah has a high rating for helping their homeless, and they have a lot of programs out there. I don’t know the specifics of that program. Sorry, I can’t comment.”
For now, Stephano said he’ll just wait and see if he can reclaim any of his belongings, and try to find shelter for himself, probably by calling friends.
