An arsonist caused minor damage to an abandoned west-side home Saturday evening, but the small blaze may be illustrative of another problem Salt Lake firefighters face, an official said.
Someone, possibly a child, started a small fire on the floor of a home at 475 N. Morton Drive (1895 West) that was abandoned sometime last fall, Salt Lake Fire Battalion Chief Jim Kleine said."Abandoned buildings represent a problem for the fire department," he said. If improperly secured, the homes are open invitations for kids who use them as playhouses, he said.
Children are prone to play with matches in empty houses like the one on Morton Drive, Kleine said.