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LEHI — Fire heavily damaged a building that housed three dental businesses in Lehi Tuesday night. It took nearly three dozen firefighters several hours to control the flames.
Around 9:45 p.m. a passerby spotted smoke coming from the building and alerted authorities.
Firefighters arrived and encountered smoke, flames, and small explosions from the gases and X-ray film inside the building. Eventually crews were called in from American Fork and Saratoga Springs to help.
NEW: Video from @lehifiredept showing the roof collapse at the dental offices destroyed by fire overnight. #KSLAMpic.twitter.com/tIpyonaGKa
— Shara Park (@KSLSharaPark) July 13, 2016
The fire spread from one business to another, and crews couldn't do much to stop it, officials said.
"Eventually it was just too hot, too much fire, and forced our guys out," said Capt. Jeff Smith of the Lehi Fire Department.
Crews finally were able to extinguish the flames, but the building will need to be demolished, Smith said.
You know it's a bad fire when you have to rest on oxygen tanks. These poor guys, been going all night. 💛#KSLAMpic.twitter.com/BJudqGkyvJ
— Shara Park (@KSLSharaPark) July 13, 2016
"It's hard to see everything because we do have a roof collapse, and it's hard to see under that. But, we have a lot of damage," he said.
The building included Timpanogos Dental, Webb Dental Design and another business that was not immediately identified. A fourth office space was vacant, according to Smith.
Crews are battling hard, but this fire is being difficult. pic.twitter.com/7dBp2sLLnA
— Jeremy Craft (@ChiefCraft_Lehi) July 13, 2016
Investigators believe the fire was accidental and caused by an electrical issue. Total loss was estimated at $2.5 million.
