SALT LAKE CITY -- The Salt Lake Fire Department responded to an abandoned building that caught fire in downtown Salt Lake City early Friday morning.
Fire investigators said the fire happened at 371 E 400 S at 1:17 a.m.
When crews arrived there were heavy flames coming from all the windows in the front of the building. The fire was under control within 15 minutes, however, the fire quickly extended into a wall in the middle of the building and moved up to the roof, the Salt Lake Fire Department said.
By the time crews were able to get to the area, the fire had flared up and firefighters were required to extinguish the fire from the outside, spokesman for SLC Fire Department Jason Asay said.
The building was last used by a Sizzler restaurant but has been vacant for quite some time, authorities said. All utilities to the building had been shut off.
Witnessed told authorities they had seen people sleeping on top of the building.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but investigators said the fire was humanly caused. Evidence of transient activity in the structure was found, however, the intent behind the fire is unknown.
No injuries were reported.
