ATF joins investigation of fire that destroyed apartment building under construction in Ogden

OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is responding to investigate the cause of the fire that destroyed an apartment building under construction in Ogden, indicating that they may be considering arson as a possibility.

The ATF has sent its National Response Team in order to conduct a joint investigation with the Ogden City Fire Department (OCFD), at the request of OCFD. The ATF is the federal agency that investigates fires and arson.

Late on August 8, fire crews responded to a fire on the 100 block of 18th Street. A three-story apartment building that was still under construction was burning, and a small grass fire nearby was sparked, possibly by embers of the structure fire.

While firefighters were able to get the fire under control within an hour, the building was completely destroyed, causing an estimated $3 million worth of damages.

Investigators are looking into the origin and cause of the fire, and due to the ATF’s involvement, it appears that they are considering arson as a possibility in this case.

The National Response Team consists of a variety of specialists, including fire protection engineers, electrical engineers, forensic chemists, and digital forensic specialists. They provide technology like unmanned aerial systems, 3D scanning, forensic mapping, and portable labs in order to help determine the origin of fires and explosions.