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RICHFIELD — A Richfield motel that had recently been converted to affordable housing was destroyed late Monday in a fire, officials said.
All of the building's 70 residents are accounted for, but some were taken to Sevier Valley Hospital for minor injuries, including two people who suffered smoke inhalation, Richfield Mayor Bryan Burrows said.
The fire ignited about 7:30 p.m. at Ville 647, 647 S. Main in Richfield. Eventually, the flames caused the building's roof to collapse and the building is considered a total loss, according to the mayor.
Roughly 40 firefighters and 20 police officers from surrounding cities remained at the scene late Monday. Crews were expected to continue fighting the blaze through the night.
"This was a devastating loss of low income housing that affects many families who lost everything," Gov. Spencer Cox said in a tweet Tuesday morning. "We are grateful for local residents and leaders who have stepped up to help these families. The state is working closely with everyone impacted by the fire."
This was a devastating loss of low income housing that affects many families who lost everything. We are grateful for local residents and leaders who have stepped up to help these families. The state is working closely with everyone impacted by the fire. https://t.co/gbwOcL7p6R
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) November 22, 2022
A shelter was established for displaced residents at the Sevier County Fairgrounds, with food provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Red Cross is also responding to provide further assistance.
A cause of the fire has not been released and police said the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office will respond in the morning to investigate.
Photos of the fire taken by bystanders show flames coming out of the top of the building, as well as a large plume of smoke, and several emergency responder vehicles at the scene.
Janalee Jeffery lives just blocks from the old motel and said the fire started small, but flames later reached high above the rest of the building.
Ville 647 is an old Motel 6 along Richfield's Main Street that was converted into affordable housing units by Salt Lake City-based property manager Keith Warburton. The property was the center of a long-standing, but recently-resolved dispute between the city and Warburton, along with Ville 647's residents and property managers.
Burrows told KSL.com in March that the city recognized the ordinance surrounding hotels and long-term rentals needed to be updated after concerns were raised about the number of hotels that were operating as long-term rentals, potentially detracting from tourism dollars that could be brought in by travelers looking to stay in Richfield. In March, Ville 647 was home to 73 residents.
Burrows also said at that time the building wasn't up to code for long-term residential use, and the city was concerned about the possibility of a fire due to the hot-plate-like appliances residents used to cook.
Burrows said Monday that a fire like this is what he and some of his constituents worried could happen. Burrows described the fire as frustrating and discouraging, and said the first priority Monday night was the people affected by it. Leaders will later figure out what comes next.
Two weeks ago, the City Council adopted an ordinance to rezone Ville 647 to a high-density, multi-family residential zone through a nearly unanimous vote, with one councilmember voting in opposition.
The vote came after Warburton was awarded $1 million to go toward upgrading and bringing Ville 647 up to code, from the $55 million the 2022 Utah Legislature set aside for affordable housing projects.
Contributing: Logan Stefanich, Bridger Beal-Cvetko
