A fire early Wednesday in the Civic Arts Center destroyed the roof and upper story of the building, the front annex of the historic Capitol Theater.
Firefighters and police officers from Logan, Smithfield and Hyrum battled the blaze, reported at 1:28 a.m. by a motorist who called the Cache County sheriff's office. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control but were still mopping up four hours later.It was the largest fire in Logan in eight years. A thorough investigation into the cause may take days.
Though the arts building appeared to be charred and severely damaged from the street, only the top story will have to be gutted and repaired, part of a project that has been under way for more than a year.
The fire didn't damage the Capitol Theater.
Former Mayor Newell G. Daines Jr., who led the city's role in construction of the Arts Center and renovation of the Capitol Theater, said the lower windows of the building and brickwork on the facade constitute the majority of work and expense put into the Civic Arts Center project. It was unscathed.
Mayor Russell Fjeldsted said the building is insured and much was in the middle of reconstruction, so losses could be minimal.
Smoke damaged the building adjacent to the future Civic Arts Center. This building housed a business on the main story, and apartments were on the second floor. Those residents were forced into the streets at 1:40 a.m.