- A Millcreek fire destroyed two apartment buildings, affecting 24 units and 79 people on Friday.
- The fire, which Unified Fire Authority says was started by a lawnmower, spread rapidly due to wind conditions.
- No residents were injured, but four firefighters sustained minor injuries while battling flames.
MILLCREEK — A massive fire destroyed two apartment buildings — a total of 24 units — in Millcreek on Friday, and fire officials say it was sparked by a lawnmower.
The fire started near 1300 East and 4600 South shortly before 2 p.m. Unified Fire Authority Capt. Tony Barker said it was reported as a brush fire by someone who had been cutting grass at a property next to the Willow Glen Apartments. But fueled by wind, it reached the apartment complex within minutes.
Even firefighters were surprised by "how quickly it spread to that apartment complex and how little time the residents had to evacuate before it became completely unstable," Barker said.
Firefighters were able to evacuate all residents before two of the four apartment buildings were destroyed by the fire. Barker said there were no injuries to residents, but four firefighters sustained minor injuries. They were able to return to work after receiving medical attention, he said.
Fire departments from across the Salt Lake Valley were called in to assist Unified firefighters. Barker estimated there were 100 firefighters in the area and said that would be "a conservative estimate."
Eventually, they got the blaze under control, but fire crews will continue to monitor it throughout the night, Barker said.
In addition to the two buildings that burned, Barker said there was heavy smoke and water damage in the two other buildings. As such, an evacuation order remains in effect for all four buildings at the Willow Glen Apartments, resulting in 79 residents being displaced.
The American Red Cross of Utah set up an evacuation center at a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1250 East 4800 South.
Throughout the early evening, as news of the fire spread throughout the valley, people from across Salt Lake County and beyond donated items to the center for those displaced. Barker said everything from Chick-fil-A sandwiches to phone chargers were given to displaced residents in the Red Cross area.
The evacuation center closed at 10 p.m., according to a social media post from Salt Lake County Emergency Management, but "Red Cross volunteers will return Saturday, 9am–2pm at the same location to assist residents ... as needed."
Details about how the lawn mower may have sparked the fire were not available Friday.
