Large fire burns apartment complexes in Millcreek, evacuations ordered

MILLCREEK, Utah (ABC4) — A large fire is burning in Millcreek at the Willow Glen Apartments near 4600 S and 1300 E. It is burning at two apartment complexes, at least 24 units, and residents have been evacuated.

According to Captain Tony Barker with Unified Fire Authority, fire crews from virtually every agency in Salt Lake County are on the scene responding to the fire because of Unified Fire Authority’s mutual aid agreement. As a conservative estimate, he said that there are 100 firefighters on the scene, but he said it was likely much more than that. Helicopters are also responding.

The fire started at 1:40 p.m. as a field fire, but strong winds pushed the fire into nearby apartment complexes. Responders initiated an aggressive attack, but they were not able to stop the spread of the fire.

Captain Barker said that two complexes have been directly impacted, with a minimum of 24 units burned, 12 units in each complex. He added that the complexes were evacuated beforehand, but they have not confirmed that every single person has been evacuated at this time.

The fire was caused by someone mowing the grass in the nearby field, though he said they have not determined exactly how that caused the fire.

Fire crews are currently fighting the fire on both the field side of the fire and the apartment side of the fire. Captain Barker said that this is an evolving incident, and that the biggest issue right now is the wind.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen one to this scale that has impacted and displaced this many folks,” Captain Barker said.

One nearby resident told ABC4.com that the fire department came to his door and told him that he needed to evacuate, and he and his neighbors were able to get out safely. He added that he mainly saw smoke when he left his home.

Many residents are waiting in a nearby LDS church, where the Red Cross has set up an evacuation staging area. This is not a shelter at this time, but they are using it to address the needs of those who have evacuated, such as providing food, water, and information for residents.

Thom DeSirant with the Millcreek City Council said that they are currently working to determine which apartments will still be inhabitable once the fire is out, and which are lost. He told any residents who have questions about what is going on or what they should do to call the city.

Officials do not know how many people have been evacuated at this time, but evacuations have been issued “in all directions” around the fire, according to Captain Barker.

Video courtesy KTVX / Bayan Wang

There is smoke and debris in the air, and there was a loud pop heard at one point, almost like an explosion. What caused that pop is not known at this time, though Captain Barker said he suspected that was from a tire popping on a car that was on fire.

Captain Barker said that a spot fire has popped up to the west, and additional crews are heading there to address that spot fire.

Currently, crews are focusing on life safety and incident stabilization. They are working to isolate and contain the fire to units that have already been affected in order to mitigate spread. This time of year, and the heat that goes along with it, is causing unique challenges, Captain Barker said, but they are expecting to have it contained.

At this time, there are no reported injuries.