Freeway reopens near 3600 S; crews still working to contain fire


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SOUTH SALT LAKE — A fire shut down I-15 near 3600 South for roughly an hour.

Officials are unsure how a fire at Diamond Tree Experts started. The fire burned piles of compost by the company's building. Officials said the fire was approximately 50 feet high and an acre long. No injuries were reported in relation to the fire.

The fire affected southbound I-15, westbound I-80, and S.R. 201. The streets in the area are still closed, but the freeway reopened around 8:45 p.m.

Fire crews will investigate the cause of the fire once the fire has been contained.

Business owners in the area say there was another fire in that same location just last week. They believe the city of South Salt Lake needs to do something about it.

"I just don't understand why South Salt Lake, first of all, would allow those people to have a business permit that does that type of business in this area where there's literally thousands upon thousands of square feet of warehouse and retail," said Bill Archer, a nearby business owner.

Officials have been working with Diamond Tree Experts to address the problem.

"We need to get it down. It's definitely creating a little bit of a problem now," said Kevin Bowman with the South Salt Lake Fire Department. "I know our fire marshals have been working with them. And as a matter of fact, we've talked about it just this morning. I know that pile is in the process of being reduced. It's just going to take a bit of time."

500 West near 3400 South remains closed. The right lanes on southbound I- 15 remain closed as well.

Workers at the neighboring business Camp Bow Wow are watching the fire closely. Camp Bow Wow, a dog daycare and boarding business, currently houses more than 50 dogs and may need to evacuate. However, fire crews say that the fire is contained to just Diamond Tree Experts.

Light rain started falling late Thursday evening, helping fire crews put out the fire. Fire crews also enlisted the help of a bulldozer to help knock down some parts of the 50-foot pile of compost.

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