South Salt Lake evacuation order lifted morning after gas leak fire

SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC4) — Residents of a South Salt Lake neighborhood were ordered to evacuate after a fire broke out on Sunday evening. The gas was shut off and the fire extinguished as of about 9 p.m., but the evacuation order remained in place overnight, with officials saying the area was still “unsafe to enter.”

The evacuation order was still in place by 7 a.m. on Monday morning. However, it was lifted shortly after.

“Anyone in 3300 South to 3500 South & West Temple to 200 West in South Salt Lake must evacuate immediately,” Salt Lake County Emergency Management said on social media. “Avoid area!”

Residents have been advised that the evacuation shelter is located at 3805 South Main Street. Anyone who cannot evacuate has been asked to call dispatch at 801-840-4000.

Fire Chief Terry Addison with the South Salt Lake Fire Department told ABC4.com that crews were initially called around 5:20 p.m. on April 27 about a truck fire. Shortly after, crews were alerted to a gas meter on fire.

“Somehow, natural gas from the gas line has made it into the sewer lines and the storm drain,” Addison said.

Addison said Enbridge Gas was working to isolate the gas leak on Sunday evening. He also said UTA had a “warming bus” in place as an evacuation shelter was being secured, and a TRAX line had been shut down.

As of late Sunday night, officials estimated that 30 people were in the temporary shelter, and others had found somewhere else to go. Red Cross and emergency management officials were at the shelter.

“The biggest concern right now is we don’t know exactly how much gas is in the line,” Addison said. “Once the gas is shut down, any of the residual gas remaining in any building is what we’re worried about. We need that to dissipate and exit the structure.”

Addison said that crews were letting the fire burn as the gas company identified “all the lines.”

Michelle Real Campos works with Real Forklift Repair, and noticed that streetlights were off when driving past the business on April 27. Campos said there was no one inside the building when the fire started, as the business is typically closed on Sundays.

“As far as I know… there’s some sort of gas leakage, and then, like, the power line, like, caught it on fire ’cause it broke. But I don’t know how it broke,” Campos told ABC4.com.

Campos said the fire had burned for several hours, but was staying in the same area. She said she is “really stressed out” about the situation.

“That’s like my life over there… it’s kinda hard to see them just standing around, but I’m sure they know what they’re doing,” Campos said. “They probably are just trying to figure out how to be safe, so… can’t be mad.”

Dennis Dolan contributed to this report.