Welder's torch starts fire at Salt Lake City warehouse under construction

Yesterday in Salt Lake City, a fire broke out in a warehouse that is under construction. Several construction workers were on site at the time of the fire. Freitag added that the material was very flammable. Scott Freitag, of the Salt Lake City Fire Department said, "It's a petroleum-based product, like rubber, so it caused for some thick, black smoke that everybody was able to see." Due to an approaching storm thick black smoke covered the area to the north of the warehouse due to the steady winds. The wind was a difficult factor in fighting the roof. Freitag also said, "The wind picked up, and since the fire started on the south side and the wind was blowing to the north, it just took the fire all along that whole side of the roof." Falling debris from the building also made it difficult for firemen to enter the building.

Scott Freitag said, "We've talked to the contractors that were inside at the time, and there was an iron worker that was up near the top--the south part of this roof--that was cutting a hole in the roof. For some reason, either the flame or the heat from the torch got into contact with the membrane that covers the roof and caught the membrane on fire." Many of the construction workers agreed that the fire could have been prevented. Construction worker Marcus Lloyd said, "They sent a welder up on a finished roof, which is never supposed to be welded on, and that started the fire." The building was to be the home of Wasatch Supply & Barrel starting this fall. Fortunately no one was hurt but price repairs are expected to be high.

Sources:
"Fire chases dozens of workers out of SLC construction site." Ksl.com. 29 Sept. 2009. Web. 30 Sept. 2009.
Reavy, Pat. "Welder's torch sparks blaze at unfinished S.L. warehouse." Deseret News. 29 Sept. 2009. Web. 30 Sept. 2009.