Cause of Sugar House fire could remain unknown another month

SALT LAKE CITY — Officials still don’t know the cause of a fire that burned a six-story apartment complex under construction in Sugar House in October.

And they won’t know for another month or longer said Cpt. Shawn Mumedy, public information officer with the Salt Lake City Fire Department. 

Although Mumedy said they are getting closer to having an answer, the cause of the Sugar House fire is still under investigation.

As many as 200 people from nearby apartments were evacuated due to the huge fire that started burning at a construction site in Sugar House.

The location of the fire was 2220 South, just west of Highland Drive.

Meanwhile, residents in Sugar House have been allowed back into apartments that are adjacent to the burn site. All five restaurants on the south side facing Sugar Alley are also open. And Sugar Alley itself is open to pedestrians now.

Previously, it was closed due to falling glass, said Orion Goff, the deputy director of the Department of Community and Neighborhoods. 

Goff said around 80% of the burnt structure has been taken down and has been hauled away.  Still, some of it remains on the concrete by the building he said.

Related reading:

• Demolition begins on construction site destroyed by fire in Sugar House
• Sugar House fire evacuees share their stories