LINDON, Utah -- Firefighters battled a fire at a business at 475 North State Street in Lindon Wednesday.
Firefighters said the Patch's Majestic Metals building was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived. At least two structures are being called a total loss because of the fire.
"The challenge right now is the size of the structure, the age of structure. As you can tell, it's been here for quite a while, we've got some roof collapses. The fire is throughout the building," said Chief Cody Cullimore, Lindon Police, Wednesday morning.
Chief Cullimore said at least four agencies responded to the fire and crews had to work in shifts because of the cold temperatures.
"During the course of the fire, we had at least three roof collapses in the back of the building and that, again, was very dangerous for those firefighters," Cullimore said.
The owner of the business, Robert Patch said the fire started in the main building at around 4:40 a.m. and spread from there. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but there's nothing that indicates there was suspicious activity.
"The building is just a shell now," Patch said. It has been part of the community for more than three decades.
"We've built stuff for thousands and thousands of homes across the state and helped hundreds and hundreds of men, boys grown to men. It's just devastating to watch everything go up," Patch said.
Patch was currently leasing the building to a new import company called the Ensign Group. The building was full of new furniture, packing materials and other supplies to open the new business.
Officials are taking action to demolish the building because it is not structurally sound. Nothing inside is believed to be salvageable.
"We're in the process of basically having to demolish the whole front of the building because we are concerned that it will potentially fall onto state street," Cullimore said.
The heavy smoke and flames forced evacuations in the area. According to the Red Cross, nine people have been displaced by the fire.
"Woke up seeing a bunch of flashing lights and everything else, then I heard a loud knock on our door and an officer was there," said Chad Lyman, an evacuated resident. "We walked out back and took a look at it. It was glowing and there was an explosion, they told us to get our stuff and evacuate. I got my dog."
State Street between 400 North and 600 North was closed in both directions while officials remained on scene.
