16-year-old arrested on suspicion of arson in Ogden fire
Jan 28, 2025, 6:08 PM | Updated: 9:55 pm
A structure fire has broken out in Ogden at a new construction site. (Shantal Sessions)
(Shantal Sessions)
SALT LAKE CITY — Ogden City police have arrested a 16-year-old male suspected of arson. They believe he is responsible for a Jan. 25 apartment complex fire.
During a press conference on Tuesday evening, Ogden Police Chief Jacob Sube said the 16-year-old was identified as a suspect following an investigation that revealed the fire was intentionally set.
The teen was arrested around 12:50 p.m. and booked into Weber Valley Youth Detention Center. He could face three second-degree felony charges; arson, causing catastrophe, and criminal mischief.
Sube said the suspect is not an Ogden resident, however, he does attend a school in the city.
Ogden fire
A fire broke out at an under-construction apartment building on Jan. 25 at around 4:30 p.m. As firefighters battled the flames, Ogden roads near 22nd and Lincoln were closed.
Firefighters battled the flames for more than two hours, keeping it contained to the block across the street from the public safety building.
Deputy Fire Chief Mike Slater said that high winds and cold weather prevented them from controlling the fire earlier. Those elements also prompted the fire to jump from the building under construction to a vacant building to the west.
Firefighters said there were no injuries associated with the fire.
Schools and businesses affected
UTOG Brewery said they were without power for almost 24 hours from early Saturday evening into Sunday afternoon. The business said a lot of employees, who depend on tips and busy weekend crowds, were heavily affected. But on Monday and Tuesday, several customers came out to support them.
“I can’t even express how grateful we are,” Jamie Dyer, the assistant manager at UTOG Brewery, said. “It affected so much of the community. It wasn’t just us, it was so much. I mean, people were without power on cold winter nights.”
Additionally, a staff member at DaVinci Academy told KSL TV that two of the academy’s campuses, the elementary school and Flex Learning Program – which neighbor the burn site – would remain closed through Friday due to impacts from the fire.
“It breaks my heart,” Dyer said. “It was a big community impact for somebody to do something not so smart.”
Related: Large structure fire engulfs building in Ogden
