- A violent explosion in Woods Cross led to a rescue.
- Employees of a neighboring business saved a critically burned man from a flash fire involving methanol.
- Their quick response prevented a larger disaster, praised by South Davis Metro Fire.
SALT LAKE CITY — What began as a routine Monday morning at Fastback Moto in Woods Cross turned into a life-or-death rescue when a violent explosion erupted at the storage facility behind the business. Employees at the motorcycle shop are being praised for their heroic response after a man was critically burned in a flash fire involving highly flammable chemicals.
Their quick thinking, teamwork and willingness to put themselves in danger not only saved a life but may have prevented a catastrophic chain reaction.
A sudden blast and a race against time
At approximately 10:15 a.m., South Davis Metro Fire received a report of what was initially believed to be an outside fire, possibly a brush fire, near 1187 S. Redwood Road.
When crews arrived, they discovered active flames inside a privately owned storage garage next to Fastback Moto.
"It sounded like a bomb went off," said Fastback Moto employee Kenzie Jenkins. "It was very, very strong. It shook our entire building."
Crews also found one person who worked in the Woods Cross business "with burns over a significant portion of their body."
Inside the garage, the man had been offloading large containers of methanol into smaller totes. Methanol, a volatile chemical often used in windshield washer fluid, ignited when it came into contact with an electrical pump. The result: a flash fire that engulfed the man and threatened to spread to other containers.
'Fire, fire, fire — I'm on fire!'
Jenkins and her co-workers, including Fastback Moto owner Tyler Astrope, didn't hesitate. Within seconds, they were sprinting toward the flames.
"We all immediately ran downstairs and ran outside. And when we saw flames above the truck, Tyler ran back and immediately said, 'grab the fire extinguisher,'" Jenkins recalled. "Tyler grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher. I grabbed the second extinguisher. Our other mechanic ran upstairs and grabbed another extinguisher. We had, I think, four extinguishers out here within 30 seconds to a minute."
As they reached the opening of the garage, the urgency intensified.
"We heard 'fire, fire, fire, I'm on fire,'" Jenkins said. "He was on fire, and we focused on him before we focused on the base of the fire."
Jenkins said as she reached the man his legs and arms were engulfed in flames.
"Actual flames were coming off of his clothing. His back of his pants were mostly burnt," she said. "And then his, like, shirt at the base of his waist was burnt. And that's when he ran into the bathroom and started splattering himself."
Jenkins and the Fastback Moto employees worked together to extinguish the flames on the victim. They stayed with him, offering comfort and care until emergency crews arrived and transported him to the University of Utah Burn Center in critical condition.
"Unfortunately, he will face a long recovery," said South Davis Metro Fire Chief Jeff Larson.
A disaster averted
While the rescue was underway, the danger was far from over. The explosion had compromised multiple other containers of methanol, which began leaking onto the ground. South Davis Metro's hazardous materials team responded with specialized equipment to offload the volatile substance into safer containers.
According to officials, the burn victim had to be decontaminated before he was taken to the University of Utah Burn Center.
We're crediting (Fastback Moto employees) with this not being 100 times worse than what it is.
–South Davis Metro Fire Chief Jeff Lason
Larson later confirmed the ignition source was likely the electrical pump used to transfer the methanol. He emphasized how close the situation came to becoming far worse.
"There were several barrels and large totes that were impacted," Larson said. "We're crediting (Fastback Moto employees) with this not being 100 times worse than what it is."
Jenkins echoed that warning.
"I'm just glad he was alive," she said. "That could have been a lot worse. When the fire marshal actually talked to us, he said if we were not as fast as we were with our fire extinguishers — and with how easily accessible our fire extinguishers were — he said ... even our unit could have blown up within 30 seconds because of how many methylene tanks were in that building."
Preparedness and courage under pressure
Larson praised the Fastback Moto team members not only for their bravery but for their readiness.
"They heard the loud noise, they came running out, and they were fortunate enough to have many fire extinguishers," he said. "They utilized all of those fire extinguishers. And essentially, we're crediting them with this not being 100 times worse than what it is."
He also used the moment to advocate for fire safety awareness.
"We advocate on a daily basis to not only the local businesses, but also to our residents to make sure you have fire extinguishers, know where they are, make sure you know how to utilize them," Larson said. "If you have any questions or need help with that, please reach out to your local fire department."
For Jenkins and her co-workers, the experience was harrowing, but they're grateful for the outcome.
"It was very stressful," Jenkins said. "But I'm so glad the outcome is so much better."
