A fire caused about $15,000 damage to a Salt Lake apartment Sunday - the same apartment Metro Narcotics officers raided Friday for drugs.
Neighbors reported hearing an explosion at 204 E. Browning Ave. (1400 South) No. 10, about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. When firefighters arrived, the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom were engulfed in flames, Salt Lake Fire Capt. Dan Andrus said.The fire was extinguished within about 10 minutes. No injuries were reported.
"We've ruled out natural gas as the cause of the explosion," Andrus said Monday. "The evidence is more consistent with an accelerant."
Police and fire investigators spoke with several neighbors Monday hoping to find out who may have poured the flammable liquid throughout the second-floor apartment.
Police suspect the apartment may have been used as a "shooting gallery" for drug addicts. Friday, officers served a search warrant at the apartment and arrested four people for distribution and possession of drugs. Small amounts of cocaine and marijuana were confiscated, Salt Lake Police Sgt. Robert Beckstead said.
Investigators are looking into possible connections between the raid and the fire. The four men who were arrested remained in the Salt Lake County Jail on Monday.
One man told investigators the apartment exploded when he lit a cigarette, but the man did not suffer any injuries and investigators are suspicious of his story.
The apartment tenant apparently moved out a month ago. But he still had furniture, clothing and other belongings there and continued to go back and forth between that apartment and his new one, Andrus said. People apparently had been coming and going from the apartment all day Sunday.