Crew demolishing Sugar House building; dozens still evacuated

SALT LAKE CITY — Following the four-alarm fire in Sugar House, fire officials say their crews aren’t going anywhere. 

Capt. Shaun Mumedy with the Salt Lake City Fire Department said they’re still rotating crews throughout this area and on that fire.

Smoke and flames can still be spotted Thursday morning. It’s something Mumedy said we’ll be seeing for the next day or two.

The developer of the project, called the Residences at Sugar Alley, tells KSL in a statement that they are devastated by the fire.

Smoke and flames are still visible this afternoon on the roof of the Sugar House apartment building that caught fire Tuesday night.

This is the side of the six-story building that was further along in construction.

No word yet on a cause. @KSL5TV @KSLcom @kslnewsradio pic.twitter.com/wox7bj53Cf

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) October 27, 2022

“Given the size and strength of this fire, we are especially grateful for the first responders, including the Salt Lake City Fire Department, the Salt Lake City Police Department, and other City officials, for their tireless and professional efforts to respond to this fire,” the statement said.

The statement went on to say that the developers recognize that residents and businesses have been displaced by the fire and that they are concerned for their well-being of those impacted.

Sugar House Fire Update #2
Affected residents and businesses will remain evacuated overnight. Highland Dr. from 2100 S to Sugarmont Dr. to remain closed for demolition and fire suppression efforts. More info and next update will be provided around 10:00 am Friday morning.

— Salt Lake City Fire Department (@slcfire) October 27, 2022

“Those conducting the fire investigation and remediation efforts (including our team) have full access to the site, and we hope that our neighbors who have not yet returned to their homes will be permitted to do so safely and as soon as possible,” the statement said.

The statement concluded saying that the developers do intend to rebuild and have already started the process to make that happen.

Back this morning following the Sugarhouse Fire. 🚒

Driving into the area, you can still see smoke billowing. Some fire, too.

This morning, crews are out working.

They’re bringing out the big equipment for demolition. @KSL5TV @slcfire pic.twitter.com/mYlLEqZ9vo

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) October 27, 2022

“We do have numerous little hot spots that are smoldering that will continue to smolder over the next day or two,” Mumedy said. “We’ll continue putting water on that fire to just minimize a lot of that smoke and fumes and minimize those hot spots and really keep that debris and that fire and whatever is going on there contained to that area.”

On Thursday, construction workers were present near the site. Mumedy said as a standard part of the investigation, fire investigators are talking with the construction company and workers to try and get to the bottom of what happened.

He said they’re also looking at bringing in some outside resources.

“That’s gonna include numerous aspects to the investigation, including interviews and workers, interviews of firefighters, and what we saw on scene, what we experienced when we rolled up,” Mumedy said.

Dan Walker, division chief with Salt Lake City Fire, said the majority of residents of the two apartments that are around the building that caught fire returned. 

“There are a few that have not been able to,” Walker said. “Some of them that immediately face where we’re doing the demolition, we have restricted those apartments. We hope to be able to get those opened up later today, but we won’t know until the demo crews — depending on how their process goes.”

As of Thursday morning, Mumedy said the Red Cross is no longer on site, however, he said they are still readily available to anyone who needs their resources. 

The investigation is ongoing as to what caused the fire.