Fire Destroys Under-Construction Apartment Project in Utah

Investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that engulfed an under-construction apartment project in Lehi, Utah, south of Salt Lake City.

The 304-unit multi-family complex, called Alta Vista, broke ground earlier this year, according to a press release issued in March by Atlanta-based developer and construction manager Wood Partners. Flames at a four-story wood-framed building were first reported at 10:17 am Sunday, Nov. 9, by the project’s on-site security guard. The fire quickly spread to the rest of the building, most of which eventually collapsed, according to a statement from the city of Lehi.

An adjacent one-story structure believed to be part of the development burned as well, while two construction cranes reportedly sustained heat damage. No work was taking place at the project when the fire occurred, and no injuries were reported.

Per local media reports, nearly 30 firefighting units from throughout the area responded to the fire, which required approximately 30,000 gallons of water per minute over two hours to be contained. Crews remained on the scene performing preventative maintenance and monitoring the structures in advance of the investigation, the city statement said.

A statement from Wood Partners read: “We are aware of the fire on Sunday at Alta Vista. The project was under construction and did not have any residents. There were no fatalities in the fire…. We are working closely with local officials through the investigation, cleanup and recovery processes.”

Fire department officials say it may take several days before they can determine the blaze’s cause and point of origin. A Wood Partners’ superintendent was quoted as saying that the gated site had 24/7 security personnel and multiple surveillance cameras.

According to the Wood Partners release, Alta Vista was part of a master planned community being developed in the fast-growing Salt Lake City-Provo technology corridor. Scheduled to open in 2027, the complex was to feature a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, as well as more than 8,000 sq ft of amenity space.

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