SALT LAKE CITY — A building on fire in downtown Salt Lake City forced people to leave their homes overnight, and smoke could be seen across the area.
The fire happened in the area of 220 S. 200 East, where crews were battling a fire at an abandoned building late Friday night.
“Crews were met with what we experienced and believed to be a smoke explosion,” explained Salt Lake City Fire Capt. Shaun Mumedy, whose crews arrived around 11:20 p.m. “That whole street level, the first-floor windows blew out right as we were arriving. Glass and smoke going approximately 50 feet clear out into the street area here behind us.”
Neither fire crews nor bystanders were injured.
Crews are planning an immediate demolition of the vacant structure so that people who live nearby can go home safely.
About 55 units at the Randi apartments right next to the structure were evacuated. Those homes were filled with smoke and the proximity to the flames was unsafe for people to live in until it was put out completely. The American Red Cross was on scene to help those who were displaced, providing food, water and shelter. Others in the area were impacted because they couldn’t get into their homes until the fire department said it was safe to do so.
Andrew Simmons lives in the apartments across the street and saw what happened.
“About to go to sleep and then just started hearing a bunch of sirens, ambulances, fire trucks," he said.
He was not evacuated, but was not allowed to go back inside the perimeter in the morning while crews were working to battle the blaze.
“Hopefully by the time we get back tonight, we can go back in. Not ideal circumstances," Simmons said.
With 200 East closed between 200 and 300 South, businesses on that block were closed and could not open for the day — including Ken Sanders Rare Books.
“It’s definitely a bummer. We were excited about the foot traffic with the Pride Festival, and Saturday is usually our best day,” said Madeline Clement, an employee at the bookstore.
Kathie Chadbourne owns From the Ground Up, a nearby cafe, and she said she met people who had been evacuated.
“People started screaming and running around and leaving the apartments and grabbing animals, and so that’s what the stories were this morning. There have been a few people that have come in, just coming in for coffee and tea, just gathering," she said.
Ultimately, she was just glad that no one was hurt.
“I’m so grateful everyone is OK. Everybody got out, and they’re being watched over beautifully. Red Cross, the police, the firemen — I love this community so much," Chadbourne said.
