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BRIGHAM CITY — For the second time in just over a year, a five-alarm fire has ripped through the vacated Baron Woolen Mills.
The large fire at 56 N. 500 East in Brigham City was reported about 2 a.m. and forced the evacuation of several nearby occupied homes. Burning embers from the fire landed on the roof of a nearby apartment complex.
"The coals hit on top of our roof and dropped down inside, so they had to drill a big hole in our roof," said resident Rick Sandberg Jr. "Our stuff is probably pretty much destroyed. We don't even have renters insurance."
Firefighters estimate damage to the apartment building at between $3,000 and $5,000. That doesn't include the water damage to the residents' belongings.
"Every time we hear a report of another arson or accident, it just breaks our hearts," said Jaren Davis, part-owner of the building.
A cause of Monday's fire was not immediately known.
The aftermath of this fire is very different from the one back on June 29, 2014. The five-alarm fire ripped through the main building of the 129-year-old company, established by Lorenzo Snow who later would become president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A 17-year-old boy from California visiting relatives in Utah later admitted to accidentally starting that fire.
Back then the owners say there was a huge up-swelling of support to restore the building.
"We had since the last fire put together quite a group," Davis said. "We have a new board that has a lot of interest in preserving that asset."
The Baron Woolen Mills was established in 1869. The mill was built in 1870, and full production began in 1873. By the early 1930s, the mill was one of the largest direct sales forces in the United States.
After the co-op closed, James Baron bought the mill and renamed it Baron Woolen Mills. The Baron family operated the mill for more than 100 years before selling it in 1988.
The mill was moved to Hyrum in 1889 but was destroyed in a fire in 1907. Thomas Baron brought the mill back to Brigham City in 1915.
Former owner Dale Baron and his brothers ran the mill for 22 years. It had been in their family for 130 years.
He said the family was kind of sad to see "my whole family history go down the tubes. It's just our lives."
While the destruction of the building breaks their hearts, he said the family is glad something will now be done with the property.
"It's too bad and we're kind of glad that it's over with. They can clean it up and everybody can go on their way … rather than sit there and looking terrible and dangerous for kids playing," Baron said.
The Baron family sold the mill to Sherwood Hirshi in the summer of 1988. Hirshi declared bankruptcy in 1992 and sold the mill to Bob and Marva Sadler in 1993.
About 11 years ago, Jim Davis and his two partners acquired the mill in a foreclosure sale. For more than a decade, the building sat abandoned. Jaren Davis said they were working on plans to restore the building.
"It was not only the Baron family, but other neighbors and historians who came to the city and said, 'We're interested in helping in any way we can,'" Davis said.
He said Monday's fire put a major setback in those plans.
"This property has significant history, and so it's the preservation of that history and learning about that building has brought my love and passion for Brigham City," he said.
The building was destroyed and backhoes knocked it all down Monday, but Davis still hopes to preserve the history somehow, maybe build a replica of part of the structure.
"I think with now a recovery in place, there might be an opportunity for people not only to participate not only financially, but with labor, with interest, with talents and skills," Davis said.
Contributing: Brittany Copeland
