SOUTH SALT LAKE — Fire ripped through a South Salt Lake apartment complex early Thursday, causing an estimated $1 million in damage.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, according to South Salt Lake Fire Chief Terry Addison. Two young children, both under the age of 3, were transported to Primary Children’s Hospital to be treated for possible smoke inhalation. By Thursday afternoon, both had been released from the hospital, Addison said.
The fire was reported about 3:10 a.m. at 3360 S. 336 East. Investigators believe it started as a car fire. By Thursday afternoon they had narrowed the possible source down to two vehicles, the chief said.
When fire crews arrived, initially three to four vehicles were on fire. But because they were in a row of vehicles close together under a metal carport roof — which increased the heat of the fire — the flames quickly spread, Addison said. Fuel tanks from the vehicles that ruptured added to the spread of the fire.
“I heard like a really loud bang, like a gunshot” said tenant Sally Taylor, who also confirmed the fire moved fast.
A total of 18 vehicles were destroyed or damaged by the fire, Addison said.
The fire spread from the cars to the three-story, 24-unit apartment building. Twelve units were considered a total loss and 12 suffered smoke and water damage, the chief said. The building was not open to occupancy Thursday, through some tenants were allowed to retrieve personal items out of the units by the afternoon. The American Red Cross was on scene to help the estimated 40 displaced residents.
The complex did have working smoke detectors, Addison said. South Salt Lake police were also on scene within a minute of the fire being reported to help residents get out.
Some of the tenants had to jump to escape the fire. Amanda Ward leapt from her second-story apartment before she even had a chance to put on her shoes.
“I opened up my door and the girl from the third floor was jumping and screaming. … I immediately jumped down, kind of spider-manned it, to help the girl that jumped,” said Ward, whose arm was burned in the process.
“I guess I’m just thankful to be alive,” she said. “I’m thankful that everyone made it out alright.”
Firefighters were able to rescue one dog during a secondary search of the individual apartments. Addison said the puppy was found hiding in a back room.
“He was happy to be taken out of the apartment,” he said.
The puppy was carried out by firefighters and administered oxygen in the back of an ambulance as a precaution, but appeared to be in “good shape.”
The flames spread to the attic and about a third of the structure’s roof was gone by the time firefighters extinguished the flames. Addison said there was a foot and a half of water in the basement by Thursday afternoon that needed to be removed.
An estimated 100 firefighters from several agencies helped bring the fire under control in about 90 minutes.
Because there was nothing obvious about what started the fire, Addison said the investigation into the cause will be treated as a crime scene until proven otherwise. Accelerant detecting K-9s were brought to the scene to sniff through the rubble.
Contributing: Felicia Martinez, Dan Rascon