A 37-year-old man has been charged with intentionally setting a fire that destroyed a Salt Lake City office building and a home next door early Sunday morning.
According to police, the man set fire to the office building at 1110 E. Ashton Ave., in the Sugar House neighborhood, by pouring gasoline from a glass container onto the outside wall of the structure, then igniting it with a disposable barbecue lighter.
The fire completely destroyed the office building and the neighboring home, and damaged an adjacent apartment building, causing an estimated $2 million in damage and threatening the lives of residents.
One firefighter was injured while battling the blaze.
According to a probable cause statement, the man’s presence at the office building violated a stalking injunction obtained by a woman who was a tenant of the office building. Police wrote that the man admitted he knew there were people in the adjacent apartment building and said he was not concerned about their welfare.
The man has been booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of aggravated arson. He is being held without bail.
