Arson suspected in South Salt Lake apartment fire; $5,000 reward for information
(KUTV) — Investigators need more information about what caused an apartment building in South Salt Lake to go up in flames last week, leaving dozens of people without a home and injuring two infants.
A reward of $5,000 is on the table for anyone who can provide information "leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting the fire," according to a press release from the South Salt Lake Fire Department.
Residents at the 24-unit Shenandoah Apartment complex, near 3300 South 300 East, were awakened at 3 a.m. on Thursday to screams of "fire" and the clamor of hasty evacuations.
The fire also destroyed 18 vehicles at the car port where investigators believe the blaze started, fire officials told 2News last week.
"We woke up to people screaming, yelling, 'fire!' and we tried to go out the front door but it was blocked by lots of fire," resident Zora Clay told 2News. "We put the kids on the floor and punched out the screen on the window, and we were just waiting for the firefighters to come help us."
Firefighters used a ladder to rescue Clay and her two children, ages 20 and 3 months, from their apartment. The two children were taken to the hospital and later released.
All told, fire officials estimate at least $1 million in damages were caused by the fire.
Anyone with information about the fire can call one or all of the following investigating agencies:
- South Salt Lake Police Department 801-840-4000
- South Salt Lake Fire Department 801-483-6043
- ATF Hotline 1-888-ATF-FIRE / 1-888-283-3473
