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KEARNS — Thirty-four people won't be able to go back to their homes tonight after fire destroyed or damaged their apartments.
The fire happened at the Carrington Square apartments at 4785 Thorncrest Way in Kearns.
Officials with Unified Fire Authority said they were called just after 12:30 p.m. about a fire coming from the roof of the apartments where the exterior was under construction. They evacuated all 24 units.
Four of the apartments had enough fire damage that residents won't be able to go back. Another eight had water damage but are believed to be repairable, the Red Cross said. A total of 34 people were displaced.
Unified fire officials said they were still working to determine if the fire started in the attic or on top of the roof.
"Our units made a quick attack, got up inside the apartment and found fire in the attic space. They were able to do a pretty quick extinguishment before it spread, but there is some pretty significant fire damage up in the top floors," said Kelly Bird, spokesman for Unified Fire Authority.
Bird said that they do believe this fire was incidental but that "they had suspicions about potential construction going on." He couldn't specify exactly what sparked it.
"There was some construction workers on the roof doing some work up there, and they had left for lunch. When they came back, the fire had started. So that's what the investigative team is working on right now," Bird said.
Firefighters also had to knock on some doors to alert people that they needed to evacuate. One witness, who didn't want to be named, told KSL-TV he was helping knock on people's doors to get them out as well.
Another resident, Zeeshin Parvez, said when he heard people on the roof he assumed it was construction. But it all happened so fast, he didn't even have time to put shoes on.
"They've been working on this building's site, so I thought they're probably they're just working. And then all of a sudden we hear this loud bang on the doors like, 'Fire department!' And they all said to leave straight up, like, 'You guys need to get out. It's a fire,'" he said.
The apartment complex is run by Bach Homes, which said it subs out its contractors.
"There's always 100 different possibilities (in a fire starting) and, until we actually have the official report, the speculation kind of seems to be the largest mistake that anybody ever makes when, you know, they're either reporting on anything," said Tyler Roundtree, senior superintendent for Bach Homes.
Roundtree said they are helping to take care of the displaced families either with extra units, hotels or short-term lodging rentals. The Red Cross also says they're helping the displaced residents.
