Dozens displaced after large fire at Millcreek apartment complex


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MILLCREEK — Ruth Caceros couldn't contain her sobs Thursday as she walked away from the ruins of what was once her home.

"(It's) all gone, all gone," she said.

Caceros was one of about 50 people displaced Thursday afternoon after a large fire ignited at an apartment complex. She was one of several residents whose apartments were destroyed.

Amid Caceros' immense loss, her main concern was losing the ability to dress up for her son's graduation from Salt Lake Community College at the Maverik Center on Friday morning.

"My son worked so hard to achieve excellence," she said through free-flowing tears. "And I have nothing to wear."

About 80 firefighters were called to the blaze at the Monaco Apartments, 4125 S. 465 East, about 1:45 p.m. Two buildings were affected, damaging all 24 combined units. Roughly one-third of those — the apartments on the third floor — were likely a total loss, Unified Fire Authority spokesman David Ulibarri said.

Ulibarri said the accidental fire ignited on a third-floor balcony of one of the buildings and quickly spread to the other. He said the cause was still being examined but noted that "smoking materials" were found on the balcony.

A total dollar amount of damage sustained was not known Thursday.

Ulibarri said multiple people made 911 calls to report the fire. Smoke and water damage were prevalent throughout both apartment buildings, in addition to fire damage that was most prominent on the third floor. A large part of the roof of one of the buildings had also fallen.

All 50 or so residents from the two buildings were displaced from their homes through at least Thursday night, the spokesman said. No serious injuries were reported, though one person was treated for minor smoke inhalation.

According to Ulibarri, some units at the expansive Monaco Apartments complex house refugees. He didn't know Thursday how many refugees were affected in the fire.

Wonderful Bai said she was dropping off her daughters at day care when she began to get text messages from loved ones asking if she was safe. After learning of the fire, she returned home to find firefighters working on her building. She said information about her apartment was hard to come by Thursday afternoon.

"(Firefighters) are just telling me it's my side that's burning," she said.

Bai, who has lived at the Monaco Apartments since January, said she was trying not to cry at the sight of the fire.

"I don't want to be homeless," she said.

Yousif Altimimi said he has lived in his apartment with his family for about 10 months. Altimimi said he was working from home using his laptop when someone came to his front door and told him he needed to evacuate.

"Good thing the kids weren't here," he said. "They were at school."

Altimimi was watching the fire with his wife and two kids when he saw smoke coming from the top of his apartment.

"I don't think my bathroom has a roof anymore," he said.

Ron Montoya was one of the callers who contacted 911 about the fire. He said he went door to door, telling residents the building was on fire. He and another man helped evacuate several pets, most of them cats and dogs, he said.

After the evacuation, however, there was nothing Montoya could do but watch the blaze rage as fire crews arrived.

"It was of course very disheartening to watch," he said.

Several Red Cross volunteers were at the scene to assist displaced residents. Rich Woodruff, a Red Cross spokesman, said it was the largest fire the agency has responded to statewide so far in 2016. Volunteers were busy Thursday evening arranging for living arrangements, food, clothing, medication and other accommodations for the victims.

Firefighters continued to battle hot spots at the apartment complex through about 5 p.m.

Contributing: Andrew Adams

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