2 businesses burn in Provo fire

PROVO — Two businesses erupted in flames near a Provo intersection late Monday night.

Multiple calls at about 11:47 p.m. reported flames at 500 West and 800 North, said Jeanie Atherton, with the Provo Fire Department. The fire impacted both Nova Ink and Ford's Meat Locker, with no injuries reported.

Atherton said the fire started at Ford's Meat Locker, but the cause remains unknown, and investigators will likely take several days or weeks to reach a final determination. Officials said the two adjacent businesses sustained smoke and water damage, but owners were able to access those buildings on Tuesday.

Crews initially tried to fight the fire from inside the building, but "deteriorating conditions" made it unsafe, so firefighters were ordered to exit the structure, fire officials said.

Video sent by a KSL viewer showed flames towering over the two businesses.

Atherton said at one point, the flames reached about 30 feet in the air, coming from the roof of one of the structures.

The fire closed 800 North to drivers and parts of 500 West for a time, according to Atherton.

Ivan Orellana owns one of the car dealerships located near the back of the buildings that were on fire. He said he was notified of the fire around midnight when his landlord told him something was burning nearby.

"I thought it was a Ford car in our lot," Orellana said. "But then, I live just like one block from (the fire), and I just came right away, and I started seeing the smoke, and then the fire came up."

A family member connected to Ford's Meat Locker took to social media expressing the heartbreak and devastation they're dealing with.

"Many have already reached out, so I'm sharing with a heavy heart that my husband's family business, which has been part of their legacy for over 80 years, burned down last night, and it has been a devastating loss. We're heartbroken, but so thankful everyone is safe," the business shared on Facebook.

This story may be updated.

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